Disc recording and/or reproducing changer with disc transporting mechanism and disc detector

ABSTRACT

A recording and/or reproducing apparatus for discs includes a housing unit housing a large number of discs, a recording and/or reproducing unit on which one of the discs held within a large number of disc holders provided in the housing unit is selectively loaded, and a transporting mechanism for transporting the disc held within a selected one of the holders of the housing unit to the recording and/or reproducing unit. The disc transporting mechanism detects whether or not the disc is held in the holder. A detection switch is activated when no disc is present in the holder. The housing unit includes a plurality of the holders positioned radially such that the disc surfaces are held upright. The selected disc held in the holder of the disc transporting mechanism is transported by the transporting mechanism in the upright position to the disc reproducing unit and loaded therein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a recording and/or reproducing apparatus for adisc-shaped recording medium, such as an optical disc or amagneto-optical disc. More particularly, it relates to a recordingand/or reproducing apparatus for a disc-shaped recording medium havingan exchange function of disc-shaped recording media in which one of thedisc-shaped recording media is selectively taken out from a containerunit containing a large number of the disc-shaped recording media andinformation signals recorded on the thus taken out recording medium,such as music signals, are reproduced from the disc-shaped recordingmedium, or the information signals, such as music signals, are recordedon the disc-shaped recording medium.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a disc reproducing apparatus in which one of disc-shapedrecording media, such as replay-only optical discs, is taken out of adisc housing unit housing a large number of the optical discs, and theinformation signals, such as music signals, recorded on the opticaldisc, are reproduced, includes, in addition to the disc housing unithousing a large number of the optical discs, a disc transportingmechanism for selectively transporting a sole optical disc housed withinthe disc housing unit, and a reproducing unit for reproducing theinformation signals recorded on the optical disc transported by the disctransporting mechanism.

The reproducing unit of the disc reproducing apparatus includes a discrotating mechanism holding the sole optical disc selected from the dischousing unit and an optical pickup unit movable along the radius of theoptical disc rotated by the disc rotating mechanism for reproducing theinformation signals, such as music sound signals, recorded on theoptical disc.

Further, the reproducing unit includes, in addition to the disctransporting mechanism for delivering the sole optical disc selectedfrom a large number of the optical discs housed within the disc housingunit, to the disc table for loading and a clamp mechanism for clampingthe optical disc thus transported by the disc transporting mechanismonto the disc table for rotation in unison with the disc table.

For selecting the optical disc reproduced by the reproducing unit, thedisc housing unit housing a large number of the optical discs is movedfor moving a desired optical disc to a position registering with thedisc transporting mechanism and the optical disc is then taken out ofthe disc housing unit by the disc transporting mechanism. Alternatively,the disc housing unit is moved to a position registering with a desiredoptical disc housed in the disc housing unit and the optical disc isthen taken out of the disc housing unit. The optical disc, positioned inregister with the disc transporting mechanism, is transported by thedisc transporting mechanism onto the disc rotating mechanism of thereproducing unit and loaded on the disc table constituting the discrotating mechanism. The optical disc is then scanned by the opticalpickup unit as the disc is rotated by the disc rotating mechanism forreproducing the recorded information signals.

For selecting one of a large number of the optical discs housed withinthe disc housing unit, serial numbers are accorded to disc holdingsections each containing and holding an optical disc. This serial numberis defined as being the number of the optical disc contained and held ineach disc holding section and designated for specifying the optical disccontained and held within the disc holding section. That is, with thedisc reproducing apparatus having a disc housing unit capable of housinga large number of optical discs, the serial number affixed to each discholding section of the disc housing unit is specified for specifying theoptical disc contained in the disc housing section and the optical discthus specified is transported by the disc transporting mechanism to thedisc reproducing unit for reproduction by the disc reproducing unit.

For reproducing the optical disc by the disc reproducing unit, thenumber input key, such as a ten-key, provided on an operating panel, isactuated for entering a desired disc number for reproducing the opticaldisc corresponding to the entered disc number.

If the optical discs are housed within all of the disc holding sectionsin the disc housing unit, the numbers corresponding to the desired discholding sections may be designated within a predetermined range forreproducing one or more optical discs corresponding to the designatednumbers. However, with a disc housing unit capable of housing a largenumber of optical discs, there may be occasions wherein the opticaldiscs are not housed within all of the disc holding sections. Forexample, some of the disc holding sections remain empty because they donot house optical discs therein. In such case, for supervising theoptical discs, it is necessary for the user to become aware of whichdisc holding sections are devoid of optical discs, that is, which of thedisc numbers are invalid. It is also necessary for the user to beapprised of the fact that the disc number now entered corresponds to thedisc holding section presently devoid of the optical disc.

Thus the optical disc reproducing apparatus of this type is so arrangedand constructed that a detection sensor is provided at a portion of eachdisc holding section of the disc housing unit and the possible presenceof the optical disc is detected based upon a detection signal from thedetection sensor in order to check whether the disc number correspondingto each disc housing section remains effective.

However, with the above-described conventional disc reproducingapparatus, since there are provided a number of the detection sensorscorresponding to the number of the disc holding sections housing theoptical discs therein, it becomes necessary to provide a space withinwhich electrical wiring for interconnecting the detection sensors isaccommodated in order to permit detection signals to be output from therespective detection sensors. There is also raised a problem that adetection display circuit for detecting the possible presence of theoptical discs in the disc housing sections and specifying the discnumbers corresponding to the empty housing section in order to apprisethe user of such state becomes complicated in construction.

For example, with the disc reproducing apparatus having a disc housingunit capable of accommodating as many as 50 or more optical discs, thespace for accommodating the electrical wiring drawn out from thedetection sensors becomes bulky, while the detection circuit becomescomplex in construction in proportion to the number of detectionsensors, leading to an extremely large size of the reproducing apparatusper se.

With the disc reproducing apparatus in which a light reflecting or lighttransmitting type sensor is used as a detection sensor for detecting theoptical disc housed within each disc housing section of the disc housingunit, and the optical disc is directly sensed by such sensor fordetermining the presence or absence of the optical disc, there isproduced an error in the disc detection accuracy due to fluctuations inthe surface states or transparency of the optical disc, with the resultthat the presence or absence of the optical disc cannot be detectedaccurately.

On the other hand, with the disc reproducing apparatus having a discexchange function in which the optical discs are selectively taken outone by one from the disc housing unit accommodating a large number ofthe optical discs and the optical discs thus taken out are transportedby a disc transporting mechanism to the disc reproducing unit and loadedon a disc rotational driving mechanism constituting the disc reproducingunit, the disc reproducing unit is supported via a supporting mechanismwithin a main body of the apparatus housing the disc housing unittherein. If an impact is applied to the disc reproducing unit supportedvia the supporting mechanism within the main body of the apparatus, theinformation signal cannot be stably reproduced under vibrationsresulting from such impact. Above all, with the reproducing apparatus ofthe type employing an optical pickup reading out the information signalsrecorded on the optical disc in a contact-free manner with respect tothe optical disc, it may be feared that, if vibrations are exerted tothe reproducing unit during reproduction, the recording tracks formed onthe optical disc cannot be scanned by the optical pickup with the resultthat reproduction of the information signals becomes impractical. Thusthere is employed a disc reproducing apparatus in which the discreproducing unit is resiliently supported by the main body of theapparatus by an interposed floating unit. With the use of the interposedfloating unit, the optical pickup constituting the disc reproducing unitor the disc rotating driving mechanism may be safeguarded againstharmful vibrations, thus assuring stable reproduction of the opticaldisc.

However, since the floating unit is adapted for flexibly supporting themain body of the apparatus via elastic members, such as rubber membersor springs, the disc rotating driving unit, thus supported by thefloating unit, becomes extremely labile in relative positioning accuracywith respect to the optical disc supported via the floating unit. Aboveall, since a supporting member supporting the disc reproducing unitcomprising an optical pickup and a disc rotating driving unit built intoa chassis is wobbled and deviated in its position by the floating unit,it becomes extremely difficult to provide for centering for engaging acentering member provided at a rotational center of the disc table in acentering hole of the optical disc delivered to the disc loadingposition of the disc reproducing unit.

If, with the disc reproducing apparatus having the disc exchangefunction in which a sole optical disc is taken out by a disc take-outunit from a disc housing unit housing a large number of optical discstherein and the optical disc thus taken out is loaded on a disc table ofthe disc rotating driving unit for reproducing information signals fromthe thus loaded optical disc, the optical disc cannot be loadedreliably, it becomes impossible to run the optical disc in rotation instability for accurately reproducing the information signals.

With the disc reproducing apparatus having the disc exchange function inwhich the optical discs are selectively taken out one by one from thedisc housing unit housing a large number of optical discs therein andthe optical disc thus taken out is transported by a disc transportingmechanism to the disc reproducing unit and loaded on the disc rotatingand driving unit constituting the disc reproducing unit for reproducinginformation signals, such as music signals, serial numbers are accordedto the disc housing sections provided in the disc housing unit forhousing the individual discs for specifying the optical discsaccommodated in the disc housing sections by these serial numbers. Forselecting a desired one of a large number of optical discs housed withinthe disc housing unit for reproduction, a number entering key, such as aten-key, provided on an operating panel of the main body of theapparatus is actuated for entering a desired disc number for reproducingthe optical disc contained in the disc housing section bearing theentered disc number.

There is also known a disc reproducing apparatus in which the letterdisplay information, such as a title, corresponding to the disc number,is registered in a memory, using a letter key or the like, and the discnumber is entered for reproduction, whereby the disc number and theletter display information corresponding to the disc number aredisplayed on a display for improving convenience of the disc reproducingapparatus.

However, with such disc reproducing apparatus, since number keys, suchas ten-keys, are used in selecting a desired one of a large number ofthe optical discs, there is raised the following problem in registeringletter display data corresponding to the disc numbers. That is, forregistering the letter display information by entering disc numbers andsubsequently entering the letter display information corresponding tothe entered disc number using a letter key or the like, it is necessaryto activate a number key corresponding to the entered disc number. Ifthe disc housing unit is capable of housing a large number of theoptical discs, it is necessary to select ten-keys a plurality of times,with an significantly increased number of operating steps.

Further, since a toggle operation is performed using a particularoperating key for retrieving a disc number, the retrieving operationbecomes complex if there are a large number of registered disc numbers.

With the disc reproducing apparatus having the disc exchange function,in which a large number of the optical discs are reproducedsequentially, the optical disc to be reproduced is automaticallyselected by a selecting mechanism provided within the reproducingapparatus for reproducing the selected optical disc, without the userdirectly handling the optical discs. With such disc reproducingapparatus, the disc number displayed on a display panel is solely thedisc number corresponding to the optical disc currently reproduced,while it is not possible to recognize the optical disc which is to bereproduced next. Thus, in order to recognize the optical disc to bereproduced subsequently, it is necessary to check for the sequence by akey operation, which is a great inconvenience.

In addition, when a number of desired music selections are selected fromone or more optical discs in order to form a group of music selections,desired discs are selected using operating keys, such as ten-keys, byway of programming, and the desired music selections are selected fromthe selected optical discs. Consequently, it is necessary to provideoperating keys for selecting optical discs and desired musice selectionsfrom the selected optical discs, while laborious operations are involvedin selecting the discs and the music selections.

The above-mentioned program needs to be reset for the next reproductionafter the end of the reproduction of the previously set of musicselections by a laborious setting operation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording and/orreproducing apparatus for disc-shaped recording media in whichdisc-shaped recording medium are selectively and sequentially taken outfrom a housing unit singly from a housing unit housing a large number ofdisc-shaped recording media, such as optical discs or magneto-opticaldiscs, and in which the information signals, such as music signals, arerecorded on or reproduced from the thus taken out disc-shaped recordingmedium.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a recordingand/or reproducing apparatus for a disc-shaped recording medium in whicha large number of disc-shaped recording media are efficiently housed andin which desired ones of these recording medium are accurately selectedand reliably loaded in a recording and/or reproducing unit.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a recordingand/or reproducing apparatus for a disc-shaped recording medium in whichthe transporting distance for the disc-shaped recording media from thehousing unit up to the recording and/or reproducing unit is diminishedto enable prompt exchange of the disc-shaped recording media.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a recordingand/or reproducing apparatus for a disc-shaped recording medium in whichthe recording and/or reproducing unit for the disc-shaped recordingmedia having a housing unit capable of housing a large number ofdisc-shaped recording media may be diminished in size and in which adetermination of whether or not a disc-shaped recording medium is housedand held within the holding section for the recording medium provided inthe housing unit can be accurately detected by a simplified detectionmechanism.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a recordingand/or reproducing apparatus for a disc-shaped recording medium in whicha determination of whether the disc-shaped recording medium is presentmay be accurately made without being affected by the surface state ortransparency of the detected disc-shaped recording medium.

The present invention is proposed in view of the above-described statusof the prior art, and has as an object to provide a recording and/orreproducing apparatus in which the relative position of the disc-shapedrecording medium may be accurately set relative to the rotating drivingmechanism for the recording medium or the recording and/or reproducingmechanism such as an optical pickup to realize stable loading of thedisc-shaped recording medium on the rotating driving mechanism for thedisc-shaped recording medium to render it possible to record and/orreproduce information signals accurately on or from the disc-shapedrecording medium.

The present invention also has as an object to provide a recordingand/or reproducing apparatus in which disc-shaped recording media areselectively and sequentially taken out singly from a housing unithousing a large number of disc-shaped recording media, such as opticaldiscs or magneto-optical discs, in which the disc-shaped recording mediathus taken out may be loaded reliably and with correct positioning onthe loading unit of the rotating and driving mechanism and in which theinformation signals may be recorded and/or reproduced on or from thethus loaded disc-shaped recording medium.

The present invention also has as an object to provide a recordingand/or reproducing apparatus in which, during the operation of recordingand/or reproducing the information signals on or from the disc-shapedrecording medium, the information signals may be recorded and/orreproduced on or from the recording medium without being affected byexternal vibrations.

The present invention also has as an object to provide a recordingand/or reproducing apparatus in which music selections recorded on alarge number of the disc-shaped recording media contained in the housingunit are classed into desired groups and the music selections may bereproduced on the group basis and in which operating keys for classingthe music selections into groups and reproducing the music selections onthe group basis are simplified in structure in order to reduce the sizeof the operating panel.

The present invention also has as an object to provide a recordingand/or reproducing apparatus in which a group of music selections, onceset, need not be reset for the next replay and in which the musicselection to be reproduced next may be known in addition to the airbeing reproduced.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The recording and/or reproducing apparatus for a disc-shaped recordingmedium according to the present invention comprises a housing unit forhousing a plurality of disc-shaped recording media, arecording/reproducing unit on which one of the disc-shaped recordingmedia contained and held within a plurality of holders provided in thehousing unit for containing and holding the disc-shaped recording mediaand which is adapted for recording and/or reproducing informationsignals, such as music signals, a transporting mechanism fortransporting one of the disc-shaped recording media contained and heldwithin the selected holder as far as the recording/reproducing unit, anda chuck unit for holding the disc-shaped recording medium transported bythe transporting mechanism for rotation in unison with a rotationaldriving mechanism provided in the recording/reproducing unit.

The transporting mechanism transporting the disc-shaped recording mediumselected from the housing unit as far as the recording/reproducing unitincludes a mechanism for detecting whether the disc-shaped recordingmedium is contained in the holder provided in the housing unit. Thedetecting mechanism detects the presence of the recording medium in theholder depending on the state of contact of a part of the transportingmechanism with the outer periphery of the disc-shaped recording medium.

The transporting mechanism for the disc-shaped recording medium includesguide means having a feed guide section having its surface facing thedisc-shaped recording medium curved smoothly and continuously and feedmeans for feeding the disc-shaped recording medium as far as a loadingposition on the recording and/or reproducing unit with the outerperiphery of the disc-shaped recording medium being guided by the feedguide section of the feed guide means.

The recording and/or reproducing apparatus for the disc-shaped recordingmedium according to the present invention includes a housing unit havinga plurality of holders for radially holding a plurality of disc-shapedrecording media with the disc surface erected upright and first andsecond detection units for detecting the rotational position of thehousing unit which is rotatable about a pivot, rotational drivingcontrolling means having a first driving unit for rotationally drivingthe housing unit, detection means for detecting the amount of rotationof the housing unit by the first and second detection units, and acontroller for supplying a driving signal to the first driving unitbased upon an input signal from an input unit for rotating the housingunit in an amount corresponding to the input signal from the input unit.The controller controls the amount of rotation of the housing unit bythe first driving unit. The apparatus also includes transporting meanshaving first and second arms for taking out a selected one of thedisc-shaped recording media housed within the holders of the housingunit rotationally controlled by the rotational driving controlling unitwhich corresponds to an input signal from the input unit, and an arcuateguide section for being abutted against the outer periphery of thedisc-shaped recording medium transported by the first and second armsfor guiding the disc-shaped recording medium transported by the firstand second arms. The apparatus additionally includes a second drivingunit rotationally driving the first and second arms for moving thedisc-shaped recording medium along the arcuate guide section, and adetection switch actuated by rotational movements of the first andsecond arms for detecting that there is no disc-shaped recording mediumcontained in the holder, and a recording and/or reproducing unit havingdisc-shaped recording medium rotating means for rotatably holding thedisc-shaped recording medium transported by the transporting means incooperation with a chuck member. The apparatus also includes recordingand/or reproducing means for recording and/or reproducing informationsignals on or from the disc-shaped recording medium held by thetransporting means in cooperation with said chuck member, and a thirddriving unit for producing relative movement between the disc-shapedrecording medium rotating means and the recording and/or reproducingmeans on one hand and said chuck member on the other hand for holdingdisc-shaped recording medium transported by the transporting means bythe chuck member and the disc-shaped recording medium rotating means.

The recording and/or reproducing apparatus for a disc-shaped recordingmedium according to the present invention includes a housing unit havinga plurality of holders for radially holding a plurality of disc-shapedrecording media with disc surfaces being erected upright. The housingunit is rotatably mounted about a pivot as a center of rotation betweenan exchange enabling position allowing for housing and exchange of atleast one of the disc-shaped recording media exposed via an opening in amain body of the apparatus and a transport enabling position allowingfor housing and transporting of the exposed disc-shaped recordingmedium. The housing unit has at least first and second detecting unitsfor detecting its rotational position.

The transporting mechanism for the disc-shaped recording mediumconstituting the recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to thepresent invention has first and second arms for taking out a selectedone of the disc-shaped recording media housed within the holders of thehousing unit rotationally controlled by the rotational drivingcontrolling unit which corresponds to an input signal from the inputunit and for clamping the outer peripheral portion of the disc-shapedrecording medium from a direction parallel to the disc surface fortransporting the disc-shaped recording medium from the transportingenabling position as far as the recording and/or reproducing position,and an arcuate guide section for being abutted against the outerperiphery of the disc-shaped recording medium transported by the firstand second arms for guiding the disc-shaped recording medium transportedby the first and second arms. The transporting mechanism also includes asecond driving unit rotationally driving the first and second arms formoving the disc-shaped recording medium along the arcuate guide section,and a detection switch actuated by rotational movements of the first andsecond arms for detecting that there is no disc-shaped recording mediumcontained in the holder.

The transporting mechanism for the disc-shaped recording mediumconstituting the recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to thepresent invention also has an arcuate guide member arranged within avertical plane including a radial line centered about a pivot rotatablysupporting the housing unit. The transporting mechanism takes out thedisc-shaped recording medium contained in the designated one of theholders of the housing unit disposed on the radial line and transportsthe disc-shaped recording medium along the arcuate guide with the discsurface being held upright.

The recording and/or reproducing apparatus for a disc-shaped recordingmedium comprises means for reproducing the information data from adisc-shaped recording medium having a plurality of information datarecorded thereon, information designating means for designating thedesired information data from the a plurality of information datarecorded on the disc-shaped recording medium, group designating meansfor designating a group to which belongs the information data designatedby the designating means and for designating reproduction of the groupedinformation, display means for displaying the attributes of the groupdesignated by the group designating means and displaying the informationdata constituting the group, storage means for storing the attributes ofthe group designated by the group designating means and the attributesof the information data constituting the group, and control means forcontrolling the display means for displaying the attributes of the groupdesignated by the group designating means and displaying the desiredinformation data constituting the group and for controlling said storagemeans for storing the attributes of the group and the attributes of theinformation data, in a manner that, when the reproduction of the groupedinformation data is designated by the group designating means, thecontrol means controls the reproducing means so that the information ofthe designated group is reproduced based upon the attributes stored inthe storage means. The control means also controls the display means fordisplaying the attributes of the reproduced information.

The recording and/or reproducing apparatus for the disc-shaped recordingmedium also includes control means for controlling the storage means andthe display means for storage and display of the attributes when groupdesignation is made during reproduction or reproduction pause. Whengroup designation is made except during reproduction or reproductionpause, the control means controls the reproducing means and the displaymeans for reproducing the designated group and displaying the attributesof the reproduced group.

The recording and/or reproducing apparatus for the disc-shaped recordingmedium also includes disc-shaped recording medium designating means fordesignating a desired one of the disc-shaped recording media containedin the housing unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment in which a recordingand/or reproducing apparatus for the disc-shaped recording mediaaccording to the present invention is applied to a disc reproducingapparatus for an optical disc in which a sole optical disc is taken outfrom a disc housing unit housing a large number of optical discs andinformation signals are reproduced from the thus taken out optical disc.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing an operating panel portion ofthe disc reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing an essential mechanical portion of thedisc reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing portions of a rotary table and a disctransporting mechanism of the disc reproducing mechanism according tothe present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a rotary table and a disc transportingmechanism of the disc reproducing mechanism according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 shows the operation of the disc transporting mechanism of thedisc reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, and showsthe operating process for the initial stage.

FIG. 7 shows the operation of the disc transporting mechanism of thedisc reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, and showsthe operating process for the state in which the distal end of thesecond arm is abutted against an optical disc in the disc takeoutenabling position.

FIG. 8 shows the operation of the disc transporting mechanism of thedisc reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, and showsthe operating process for the state in which the first arm is rotatedclockwise with clockwise rotation of a rotary disc beginning from theposition in which the distal end of the second arm is abutted againstthe optical disc which is in the disc takeout enabling position.

FIG. 9 shows the operation of the disc transporting mechanism of thedisc reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, and showsthe operating process for the state in which the first arm is switchedfrom the clockwise rotation to the counterclockwise rotation.

FIG. 10 shows the operation of the disc transporting mechanism of thedisc reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, and showsa moment in the operating state in which the distal end of the first armis abutted against the optical disc which is in the disc takeoutenabling position for lifting the optical disc.

FIG. 11 shows the operation of the disc transporting mechanism of thedisc reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, and showsthe operating state in which the optical disc is lifted obliquely upwardand contacted with a disc feed guide member with counterclockwiserotation of the first arm.

FIG. 12 shows the operation of the disc transporting mechanism of thedisc reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, and showsthe state in which the optical disc is fed towards a disc loadingposition on the disc reproducing unit under guidance by a disc feedguide member with counterclockwise rotation of the first arm.

FIG. 13 shows the operation of the disc transporting mechanism of thedisc reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, and showsthe state in which the optical disc is fed as far as the disc loadingposition on the disc reproducing unit.

FIG. 14 shows the operation of the disc transporting mechanism of thedisc reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, and showsthe operation in which there is no disc at the disc takeout enablingposition.

FIG. 15 is a schematic view showing the disc reproducing unit of thedisc reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a plan view showing the disc reproducing unit of the discreproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a front view showing the disc reproducing unit of the discreproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a front view showing the state in which the optical disc hasbeen loaded on the disc reproducing unit of the disc reproducingapparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a signal transmission system of arotating position detecting mechanism of the disc reproducing apparatusaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a signal waveform diagram showing detection signals outputfrom the optical sensors in the rotary position detection mechanism ofthe disc reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, andshows in particular the signal waveform of detection signals for discnumbers "1" to "32".

FIG. 21 is a signal waveform diagram showing detection signals outputfrom the optical sensors in the rotary position detection mechanism ofthe disc reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, andshows in particular the signal waveform of detection signals for discnumbers "32" to "65".

FIG. 22 is a signal waveform diagram showing detection signals outputfrom the optical sensors in the rotary position detection mechanism ofthe disc reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, andshows in particular the signal waveform of detection signals for discnumbers "66" to "100".

FIG. 23 is a side view showing an essential mechanism of a discreproducing apparatus according to a modification of the presentinvention.

FIG. 24 is a plan view showing portions of the rotary table and the disctransporting mechanism of the disc reproducing apparatus according tothe modification.

FIG. 25 is a front view showing the rotary table and the disctransporting mechanism of the disc reproducing apparatus according tothe modification.

FIG. 26 is an exploded perspective view of a disc feed mechanism of adisc transporting mechanism employed in the disc reproducing apparatusshown in FIG. 23.

FIG. 27 is an exploded perspective view of a disc feed mechanism shownin FIG. 26 as viewed from another direction.

FIG. 28 is a developed view showing first and second cam sections of asecond rotary cam member.

FIG. 29 shows the operation of modification of the disc transportingmechanism of the disc reproducing apparatus according to the presentinvention, and shows the operating process for the initial stage.

FIG. 30 shows the operation of the disc transporting mechanism of thedisc reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 29, and shows the operatingprocess for the state in which the distal end of the second arm isabutted against an optical disc in the disc takeout enabling position.

FIG. 31 is a side view showing the operating state of the disctransporting mechanism shown in FIG. 29 and showing the state in whichthe optical disc has been transported to the loading position on thedisc reproducing unit.

FIG. 32 is a side view showing the operating state of the disctransporting mechanism shown in FIG. 29 and showing the state in whichthe optical disc has been transported to the loading position on thedisc reproducing unit and subsequently brought to the rotation enablingstate.

FIG. 33 is a perspective view showing the front side of a discreproducing unit portion of the disc reproducing apparatus according toa further modification of the present invention.

FIG. 34 is a perspective view showing the rear side of a discreproducing unit portion of the disc reproducing apparatus according tothe further modification of the present invention.

FIG. 35 is a plan view showing the disc reproducing unit portion of thedisc reproducing apparatus according to the further modification of thepresent invention.

FIG. 36 is a back side view showing a floating lock mechanism of thedisc reproducing apparatus according to the further modification of thepresent invention.

FIG. 37 is a schematic perspective view showing supporting structure fora second rotary cam member of a disc driving unit supporting substrateof the disc reproducing apparatus according to the further modificationof the present invention.

FIG. 38 is a front view showing the state in which an optical disc isloaded on the disc reproducing apparatus according to the furthermodification of the present invention.

FIG. 39 is a block diagram showing a circuit system of a discreproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 40 is a diagrammatic view showing the construction of a fileallocated to a memory of the disc reproducing apparatus according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 41 is a flow chart showing the operational sequence of groupregistration in the disc reproducing apparatus according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 42 is a flow chart showing the operational sequence of disc numbersetting in the disc reproducing apparatus according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 43 is a flow chart showing the operational sequence of memoryinputting in the disc reproducing apparatus according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 44 is a flow chart showing the operational sequence of reproductionin the disc reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 45 is a flow chart for illustrating a selecting operation for clipfiling and clip playing in the disc reproducing apparatus according tothe present invention.

FIG. 46 is a flow chart for illustrating the clip filing in the discreproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 47 is a flow chart for illustrating the clip playing in the discreproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 48 is a flow chart for illustrating the clip erasing in the discreproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 49 is a waveform diagram for illustrating the phase difference ofthe pulses output depending on the direction of rotation of a rotaryoperating key provided in the disc reproducing apparatus according tothe present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be explained with reference to anembodiment in which it is applied to a reproducing apparatus for anoptical disc in which a sole optical disc is taken out of a disc housingunit and information signals, such as music signals, recorded on thethus taken out optical disc are reproduced. The disc housing unit is aunit housing a large number of disc-shaped recording media which hereinare optical discs.

The reproducing apparatus according to the present invention comprisesan outer casing 1 constituting a substantially square-shaped main bodyof the apparatus, within which there are enclosed a disc housing unit 2capable of housing 100 optical discs D and a disc reproducing unit 3 forreproducing a selected sole disc D taken out of the disc housing unit 2,as shown in FIG. 1.

The disc housing unit 2 provided within the outer casing 1 has a rotarytable 5 which is rotatably supported via a pivot 4 implanted on a bottomsurface la of the outer casing 1 and which constitutes a circularhousing unit main body, as shown in FIG. 3. Since the rotary table 5 issupported by the pivot 4 set upright on the bottom surface la of theouter casing 1, the rotary table 5 is rotated parallel to the bottomsurface 1a of the outer casing 1.

The rotary table 5 is formed with a large number of disc-receiving slits6 extending radially form the center of rotation of the rotary table 5supported by the pivot 4, as shown in FIG. 4. In the present embodiment,100 of such slits are formed around the perimeter of the rotary table 5.A cylindrically-shaped disc support is formed on the lower side of therotary table 5 coaxially and as one with the rotary table 5, as shown inFIG. 3. The disc support 7 has a number of disc support grooves 8, inregister with the disc inserting slits 6, for supporting the outer rimportions of the optical discs D introduced through these slits 6. Thesedisc support grooves 8 are radially formed at the outer peripheralcorners on the upper surface of the disc support 7 facing the rotarytable 5. These disc support grooves 8 are formed with curved surfacescorresponding to the outer periphery of the optical disc D. Thus theoptical disc D inserted into the disc inserting slit 6 has its outerperiphery supported in the disc support groove 8 so as to be preventedfrom being disengaged from the slit 6. That is, the disc inserting slit6 and the disc support groove 8 make up a disc housing section forhousing and holding a sole optical disc D.

It is noted that the disc inserting slit 6 formed in the rotary table 5has the width of its inner rim side end 6a towards the center ofrotation of the rotary table 5 and the width of its outer rim side end6b towards the outer rim of the rotary table 6 substantially equal tothe thickness of the optical disc D introduced through the slit 6. Thedisc inserting slit 6 also has the width of an intermediate portion 6cbetween the inner rim side end 6a and the outer rim side end 6bgradually broader from the inner rim towards the outer rim of the rotarytable 5.

With the disc inserting slit 6 formed in this manner, the optical discD, introduced through the disc inserting slit 6, is supported upright onthe rotary table 5 by the inner rim side end 6a and the outer rim sideend 6b in a manner free of wobbling. That is, the optical disc D ishoused and held within the disc housing unit 2 with its major surfacerunning parallel to the pivot 4 supporting the rotary table 5 as thecenter of rotation of the rotary table 5. In addition, since the opticaldisc D has only its non-recording region on its outer peripheral sidesupported by the inner rim side end 6a and the outer rim side end 6b ofthe disc inserting slit 6, the signal recording region formed on theinner periphery of the optical disc D may be positively prevented frombeing contacted with the sidewall of the disc inserting slit 6 duringinsertion of the disc D into the slit 6 or during rotation of the discD. Above all, since the intermediate portion 6c of the disc insertingslit 6 is formed with a gradually increasing width from the inner rimside towards the outer rim side, the signal recording region may bepositively prevented from being contacted with the sidewall of the discinserting slit 6 during insertion of the optical disc D into the discinserting slit 6.

On the entire outer peripheral surface of the rotary table 5,constituting the disc housing unit 2, there is formed a gear 9, as shownin FIG. 3. The rotary table 5 is rotated by the housing unit rotatingdriving mechanism, about the pivot 4 as the center of rotation, by thedrive transmitting gear of the housing unit rotating driving mechanismconstituting the first driving unit of the present apparatus meshingwith the gear 9. In the upper portion of the outer peripheral surface ofthe rotary table 5 having the gear 9, there are formed a plurality ofengagement recesses 10 in register with the disc inserting slits 6. Theengagement recesses 10 are engaged by a housing unit rotation regulatingmechanism, as later explained, for regulating the rotation of the rotarytable 5.

The outer casing 1, having enclosed therein the disc housing unit 2housing and holding the optical discs D and the disc reproducing unit 3for reproducing the optical disc D selected and taken out from the dischousing unit 2, has a disc insertion/ejection opening 11 via which theoptical discs D are inserted into and taken out of the disc housing unit2, as shown in FIG. 1. The disc insertion/ejection opening 11 isprovided on the upper surface of the outer casing 1 for extending fromthe front surface towards the back surface of the outer casing 1. Thedisc insertion/ejection opening 11 is dimensioned to expose a number ofthe disc inserting slits equal to about one-fourth of the large numberof, specifically 100, disc inserting slits provided in the rotary table5. The optical discs D introduced and held within the discinsertion/ejection opening 11 may be exchanged by introducing orejecting the optical discs D via the disc insertion/ejection opening 11.The disc insertion/ejection opening 11 is covered with a lid 12 whichmay be opened and closed and which is formed of transparent syntheticresin. During reproduction of the optical disc D or when the discs arenot in use, the lid 12 is closed for preventing the optical disc Dhoused within the disc housing unit 2 from being inadvertently contactedvia the disc insertion/ejection opening 11 and for preventing impuritiesfrom intruding into the inside of the outer casing 1 for protecting theoptical discs.

On the front surface of the outer casing 1, there is provided anoperating panel 13 having an array of operating switches or buttons forcontrolling the operation of the disc reproducing apparatus. Referringto the enlarged view of FIG. 2, the principal operating switches andbuttons provided on the operating panel 13 include a power switch 15arranged on an upper left portion of the operating panel 13 andactuating keys 16, such as a playback mode selecting key, for selectingthe playback operating mode or the one-track operating mode, one-trackjump key, pause key or a stop key on an upper right portion of theoperating panel 13. There is also provided on a lower mid portion of theoperating panel 13 a disc group designating key 17 for grouping the 100optical discs D housed within the disc housing unit 2 into units eachconsisting of a selected number of the optical discs depending on thecontents of the recorded information or the use frequency by a pluralityof users. In the present embodiment, the disc group designating keys 17are made up of 10 keys, namely a first disc group designating key 17a toa tenth disc group designating key 17j. A disc group entry key 19 isarranged above the first disc group designating key 17a among the discgroup designating keys 17, and a memo entry key 20 is arranged on theleft-hand side of the group entry key 19. There are also arranged LEDs21 for emitting red and green light above the disc group designatingkeys 17.

In addition, with the disc reproducing apparatus according to thepresent invention, first to fourth music clip keys 251 to 254 fordesignating the formation and reproduction of a group consisting only ofdesired music selections on the mid to right portion of the disc groupdesignating keys 17 in FIG. 2. There is also arranged on the right-handside of the music clip keys 251 to 254 an erasure key for erasing themusic selections clip-filed by the operation of the music clip keys 251to 254.

With the reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment, there isprovided a rotary operating key 22 on the lower right-hand portion ofthe operating panel 13, while a file key 23 is provided on the left-handside of the rotary operating key 22. The rotary operating key 22includes a data-setting pushbutton switch 24 which is stationary withrespect to the operating panel 13. The rotary operating key 22 has aplurality of, for example ten, intermittent stop positions perrevolution. Data is updated at each stop position. For example, the datais updated in the (+) and (-) directions when the key 22 is rotatedclockwise or counterclockwise, respectively.

At a mid portion of the operating panel, there is provided a display 28formed by a FL tube or as a liquid crystal display. The display 28includes a disc group number designating area 29 for displaying thegroup number of the selected or current disc, a memo display area 30 fordisplaying the memo, such as a title concerning the selected or currentdisc number, and first and second disc number display areas 31a, 31b fordisplaying the disc number of the optical disc D subsequentlyreproduced.

The principal mechanism constituting the present disc reproducingapparatus will be explained by referring to FIGS. 3 to 22.

The disc reproducing apparatus includes a disc housing unit rotatingdriving mechanism 41 for rotating the disc housing unit 2 housing alarge number of optical discs D clockwise and counterclockwise, aboutthe pivot 4 as a center of rotation, a disc transporting mechanism 42for selectively taking out one of the optical discs D housed within thedisc housing unit 2 and transporting the selected disc so that it isloaded on the disc reproducing unit 3, and a disc housing unit rotatingposition detecting mechanism 44 for detecting the rotational position ofthe disc housing unit 2, as shown in FIG. 3.

Referring first to the housing unit rotating driving mechanism 41,constituting a first driving unit of the present apparatus, the housingunit rotating driving mechanism 41 rotates the disc housing unit 2 formoving the optical disc D housed and held within one of the disc holdingsections as selected by the various keys arranged on the operating panel13 to a disc takeout enabling position by the disc transportingmechanism 42, that is a position in register with the disc transportingmechanism 42. Each disc holding section is made up of the disc insertingslit 6 and the disc support groove 8, as explained hereinabove.

The housing unit rotating driving mechanism 41 includes a driving motor45 arranged at the corner within the outer casing 1 and a speed-reducinggearing 46 made up of a plurality of gears, as shown in FIG. 3. Adriving gear 47 of the speed-reducing gearing 46 meshes with the gear 9formed on the outer periphery of the rotary table 5 in order to transmitthe driving power of the driving motor 45 to the rotary table 5. Therotary driving power of the driving motor 45 is transmitted to thespeed-reducing gearing 46 via a pulley 45b mounted on an output shaft45a of the driving motor 45 and a pulley 46a of the speed-reducinggearing 46. Thus the rotary driving power of the driving motor 45 isdecelerated by the speed-reducing gearing 46 and ultimately transmittedvia the driving gear 47 to the gear 9 of the rotary table 5 forrotationally driving the rotary table 1. The driving motor 45 isrotationally driven in both the forward and reverse directions forrotating the disc housing unit 2 inclusive of the rotary table 5clockwise and counterclockwise about the pivot 4 as a center of rotationresponsive to the position of the optical disc D selected by the keysarranged on the operating panel 13.

The disc transporting mechanist 42 for selectively taking out theoptical disc D from the disc housing unit 2 and loading it on the discreproducing unit 3 is arranged at a corner of the outer casing 1opposite to the corner at which the housing unit rotating drivingmechanism 41 is mounted. The disc transporting mechanism 42 includes adisc feed unit 50 for supporting two points of the outer periphery ofthe optical disc D inserted into and held by the disc inserting slit 6of the disc housing unit 2, taking out the optical disc D out of thedisc housing unit 2 with the disc surface parallel to the axialdirection of the pivot 4, and feeding the disc D as far as the discloading position onto the disc reproducing unit 3. The disc transportingmechanism 42 also has a disc feed guide member 49 for supporting theouter periphery of the optical disc D opposite to the disc sidesupported by the disc feed unit 50 for guiding the movement of theoptical disc D fed by the disc feed unit.

The disc feed unit 50 of the disc transporting mechanism 42 is arrangedfor extending from a position facing the upper outer peripheral side ofthe optical disc D housed within and held by the disc housing unit 2 asfar as the disc loading position of the disc reproducing unit 3 arrangedat a corner of the outer casing at which the disc transporting mechanism42 is arranged. Thus the disc feed guide member 49 is extended from theposition facing the upper outer periphery of the disc towards the pivot4 for the optical disc D protruded from the disc housing unit 2 to thedisc loading position of the disc reproducing unit 3 which is arrangedso as to permit the optical disc D to be loaded with the disc surfaceparallel to the axial direction of the pivot 4, with the plane parallelto the axial direction of the pivot 4 being the rotational plane of theoptical disc D, as shown in FIG. 3.

The disc feed guide member 49 has its surface facing the outer peripheryof the optical disc D as a smoothly and continuously curved feed guidesection 49a. Specifically, the feed guide section 49a has its portionpositioned towards the pivot 4 facing the outer periphery of the opticaldisc D housed within the disc housing unit 2 as an acutely risingsubstantially arcuate curved surface and its portion beginning from theend of the arcuate curved portion and terminating at the discreproducing unit 3 as a curved surface having a gradually increasingradius of curvature. That is, from the geometrical aspect, the feedguide section 49a follows the first quadrant of an ellipse having thetransverse direction as its long axis. Both sides of the feed guidesection 49a are formed as feed guide wall sections 49b for suppressingwobbling of the optical disc D guided by the feed guide member 49 forpreventing the optical disc D from falling inadvertently from the discfeed guide member 49.

The disc feed guide member 49 is mounted on a disc reproducing unitmounting substrate 51 mounting the disc housing unit 2. The discreproducing unit mounting substrate 51 is formed by a thin metal plateand fixedly implanted towards the disc reproducing unit 3 within theouter casing 1 by having its proximal side supported by the pivot 4. Thedisc feed guide member 49 is pivotally mounted by having its proximalend carried by a shaft 52 set on the substrate 51 so as to be rotatableabout the shaft 52 as the center of rotation.

The disc feed mechanism 50 constituting the disc transporting mechanism42 has a first arm 54 and a second arm 55 which are pivotally mountedfor opening and closing movement about a common pivot shaft 53 as acenter, as shown in FIG. 6. These first and second arms 54, 55 aremounted via a pivot shaft 53 and rotationally biased by a torsion coilspring 62 having its one end 62a retained by the first arm 54 and itsother end 62b retained by the second arm 55 in the directions in whichthe arm ends facing the outer periphery of the optical disc D approachtowards each other shown by arrows P and Q in FIG. 6. In the first andsecond arms 54, 55, there are bored a first cam opening 57 and a secondcam opening 58 which are passed through by an arm rotation control pin59 implanted on one of the major surfaces of a rotating disc 60 which isrotated by the driving force of a driving motor 61. The arm rotationcontrol pin 59, passed through the first and second cam openings 57, 58,is set on the rotating disc 60 at a position offset from the center ofrotation of a pivot 56 about which the disc 60 is pivotally mounted. Thedriving motor 61, which runs the disc 60 in rotation for rotationallydriving the first and second arms 54, 55 in rotation make up a seconddriving unit for the apparatus along with the rotating disc 60.

The first arm 54 of the disc feed unit 50 is molded of synthetic resinand has a driving member 63 having a pivotal mounting portion for thepivot 53 and a substantially L-shaped disc feed member 64 extending fromone lateral side of the driving member 63, as shown in FIG. 6. Thedriving member 63 has the first cam opening 57 formed therein and havinga first cam portion 57a and a second cam portion 57b opposing each otherand having the same radius of curvature. The disc feed member 64 isextended from the lateral side of the driving member 63 so that its oneend fitted with a roll 65 supporting the disc D being fed faces thelower outer periphery of the disc D housed within the disc housing unit2.

The first arm 54 is rotated counterclockwise as indicated by arrow P inFIG. 6, about the pivot 53 as the center of rotation so that the roll 65at its one end is made to bear against the outer periphery of theoptical disc D housed within the disc housing unit 2. Additionally, thefirst arm 54 is further rotated counterclockwise for lifting the opticaldisc D obliquely upward in FIG. 6. The first arm 54 is rotated furthercounterclockwise for contacting the outer periphery of the optical discD opposite to the disc portion supported by the roll 65 with the feedguide section 49a of the feed guide member 49. With the first arm 54continuing to be rotated counterclockwise, the optical disc D is guidedby the feed guide member 49a of the disc feed guide member 49 so as tobe fed as far as the loading position on the disc reproducing unit 3.

The second arm 55 is molded of synthetic resin and has a driving section66 having a pivotal mounting portion to the pivot 53 at its one end andan L-shaped disc detecting section 67 extending from the pivotalmounting portion of the driving section 66 to the pivot 53 in thedirection of the optical disc D housed within the disc housing unit 2,as shown in FIG. 6. The disc detecting section 67 faces the disc feedmember 64 of the first arm 54, with the optical disc D housed within thedisc housing unit 2 therebetween. On one end of the disc detectingsection 67 facing the disc feed member 64 is mounted a roll contactedwith the outer periphery of the optical disc D.

In the driving section 66 is bored a second cam groove extending fromthe pivotal mounting portion towards the opposite end of the drivingsection. The portion of the second cam groove 58 extending towards leftfrom its opposite end facing a pivotal mounting portion to the pivot 53as far as the pivotal mounting portion to the pivot 53 over a lengthequal to one-third of the overall length of the cam groove is formed asa first cam section 58a having the radius of curvature equal to that ofa first cam 75 formed in the first arm 54. The mid portion intermediatebetween the first cam section 58a and the pivotal mounting portion tothe pivot 53 is formed as a second cam section 58b which is continuousto the first cam section 58a and which has the same radius of curvatureas that of the first cam section 58a. The portion extending from thesecond cam 58b to the pivotal mounting portion for the pivot 53 isformed as a linear second cam section 58c. The side of the second camgroove 58 facing the second cam section 58b is formed as a clearance 58dcut off in the form of an indentation.

Thus the portion extending from the first cam section 58a of the firstcam groove 58 as far as the second cam section 58b is arcuate-shaped andhas the same radius of curvature as that of the first cam sections 57aand 57b of the cam groove 57. The curvature of the first and second camsections 57a and 57b of the first cam groove 57 and curvature of thefirst and second cam sections 58a, 58b are arcuately-shaped, with thecenter of rotation of the rotating disc 60 having the arm rotationcontrol pin 59 set thereon as the center of the curvature, as shown inFIG. 14.

When the arm rotation control pin 59 inserted in the second cam groove58 is run in rotation so that the second arm 55 constituting the discfeed mechanism 50 is rotated clockwise as shown by arrow Q in FIG. 6,the roll 68 provided on its one end is made to bear against the outerperiphery of the optical disc D opposite to the portion of the outerperiphery of the disc D contacted by the roll 65. The second arm 55 hasits clockwise rotation as indicated by arrow Q in FIG. 6 controlled byabutment of the roll 65 on the outer periphery of the optical disc D.

If, while no optical disc D to be transported is held within theinserting slit 6 of the disc housing unit 2 in register with the disctransporting mechanism 42, the second arm 55 is rotated clockwise asindicated by arrow Q in FIG. 6, the roll 68 provided on its one end isnot contacted with the optical disc D. Thus the second arm 55 is furtherrotated clockwise as indicated by arrow Q in FIG. 6. When the detectionswitch 70 for detecting the presence or absence of the optical disc Dprovided on the rotating trajectory of the second arm 55 is actuated bythe switch operating section 55a on the opposite side to the roll 68, sothat the detection switch 70 is turned on, it is electrically detectedthat there is no optical disc D to be transported in the disc insertingslit 6 of the disc housing unit 2 in register with the disc transportingmechanism 42.

The detection switch 70 for detecting the presence or absence of theoptical disc D is mounted on a mounting plate 70a arranged within theouter casing 1.

The operation of taking out the optical disc D from the disc housingunit 2 by the above-described disc transporting mechanism 42 and theoperation of detecting the presence or absence of the optical disc D inthe disc inserting slit 6 of the disc housing unit 2 are hereinafterexplained.

Before transporting the disc, the state of the disc transportingmechanism 42 is such that, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the first andsecond arms 54, 55 are extended apart from each other, with the pivot 53as the center of rotation, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. Thus the rolls 65,68, provided on the one ends of the first and second arms 54, 55, arespaced apart from the outer periphery of the optical disc D insertedinto the disc inserting slit 6 of the disc housing unit. If now therotating disc 60, having the arm rotation control pin 59 set thereon, isrun in rotation clockwise as indicated by arrow A in FIG. 6, about thepivot 56 as the center of rotation, the arm rotation control pin 59 inits initial stage is rotated from the first cam section 57a on the uppersurface of the first cam groove 57 formed in the first arm 54 and fromthe upper surface of the first cam section 58a of the second cam groove58 in the second arm 55 along the upper surface of the first cam section58a of the second cam groove 58 formed in the second arm 55, as shown inFIG. 7. As the arm rotation control pin 59 is rotated in the directionshown by arrow A in FIG. 6, the first and second arms 54, 55 are rotatedin unison clockwise, that is, in the same direction as the direction ofrotation of the arm rotation control pin 59, with the common pivot 53 asthe center of rotation. As the arm rotation control pin 59 continues itsrotation clockwise as indicated by arrow A in FIG. 6, the roll 68provided at one end of the second arm 55 approaches the outer peripheryof the optical disc D housed within the disc housing unit 2. When theroll 68 is brought into contact with the outer periphery of the opticaldisc D, as shown in FIG. 7, clockwise rotation of the second arm 55ceases. At this time, the switch actuating section 55a on the oppositeside of the second arm 55 is sufficiently spaced apart from thedetection switch 70 adapted for detecting the presence or absence of theoptical disc D. Thus the optical disc D to be transported being presentin the disc housing unit 2 is detected by the roll 68 provided at oneend of the second arm 55.

If the rotating disc 60 is further run in rotation clockwise asindicated by arrow A in FIG. 7, the arm rotation control pin 59 isrotated along the first cam section 57a on the upper surface of thefirst cam groove 57 in the first arm 54, as shown in FIG. 8, forrotating the first arm 54 clockwise as indicated by arrow P in FIG. 7,about the pivot 53 as the center of rotation. On the other hand, sincethe roll 68 is abutted against the outer periphery of the optical disc Dand the arm rotation control pin 59 is separated from the second camsection 58b so as to be rotated within the clearance 58d opposite to thesecond cam 58b, the second arm 55 has its rotation suppressed by theoptical disc D and thereby is halted. That is, only the first arm 54 isrotated clockwise as indicated by arrow P in FIG. 7, about the pivot 53as the center of rotation.

If there is no optical disc D inserted into the disc inserting slit 6 ofthe disc housing unit 2 faced by the first and second arms 54, 55, thereis no obstacle impeding rotation of the second arm 55, as shown in FIG.14. As a result, the second arm 55 is rotated clockwise under the biasof the torsion coil spring 62, as indicated by arrow Q in FIG. 14, aboutthe pivot 53 as the center of rotation, for approaching the one end sideroll 68 towards the first arm 54. The second arm 55 is rotated clockwiseas indicated by arrow Q in FIG. 14, until the arm rotation control pin60 is made to bear against the second cam section 58b of the second cam58. With the rotation of the second arm 55, the switch actuating section55a provided at the opposite end of the second arm 55 is rotated towardsthe detection switch 70 for the presence or absence of the optical discD for actuating and turning on the selection switch 70.

If the rotating disc 60 is further rotated from the state shown in FIG.8 as indicated by arrow A in FIG. 8, the arm rotation control pin 59reaches the end of the pivot 53 of the first cam groove 57 in the firstarm 54, as shown in FIG. 9. With further rotation of the rotating disc60 in the direction shown by arrow A in FIG. 9, the arm rotation controlpin 59 is rotated along the side of the second cam section 57b of thefirst cam groove 57. If the rotating disc 60 is further rotated fromsuch state in the direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 9, the armrotation control pin 59 is rotated as it thrusts the second cam section57b of the first cam groove 57, for rotating the first arm 54 about thepivot 53 counterclockwise as indicated by arrow P in FIG. 10. The roll65 provided at one end of the first arm 54 approaches the outerperiphery of the optical disc D housed within the disc housing unit 2.

The second arm 55 has its one side roll 68 abutted against the opticaldisc D, with the arm control pin 60 being rotationally moved within theclearance 58d of the second cam groove 58. Thus the second arm 55 ismaintained in its halted position.

If the rotating disc 60 is further rotated clockwise as indicated byarrow A in FIG. 10, the arm rotation control pin 59 is rotated as itthrusts the second cam section 57b of the cam groove 57 of the first arm54, as shown in FIG. 10, until the roll 65 provided at one end of thefirst arm 54 is caused to bear against the outer periphery of theoptical disc D. As the rotation of the rotating disc 60 in the directionindicated by arrow A in FIG. 10 proceeds, the first arm 54 uplifts theoptical disc D supported by the end roll 65 towards the feed guidesection 49a of the feed guide member 49. The arm rotation control pin 59is caused at this time to bear against the second cam section 58b of thesecond cam groove 58 of the second arm 55 and is rotated as it thruststhe second cam section 58b. Since the second cam section 58b of the camsection 58 has the same radius of curvature as the second cam section57b of the first cam groove 57, the second cam section is thrust by thearm rotation control pin 59 simultaneously with the second cam section57b of the first cam groove 57. Thus the second arm 55 is rotatedcounterclockwise as indicated by arrow P in FIG. 10, in unison with thefirst arm 54, with the end roll 68 in proximity to the outer peripheryof the optical disc D, with the pivot 53 as the center of rotation.

If the rotating disc 60 is further rotated clockwise as indicated byarrow A in FIG. 10, the arm rotation control pin 59 is rotated, as thearm rotation control pin thrusts the second cam section 57b of the firstcam groove 57 provided in the first arm 54 and the second cam section58b of the second cam groove 58 in the second cam 55, as shown in FIGS.11 and 12. With rotation of the first arm 54 in the direction shown byarrow P in FIG. 11, the optical disc D supported by the end roll 65 ofthe first arm 54 has its outer periphery contacted with the feed guidesection 49a of the disc feed guide member 49. If the rotating disc 60continues further to be rotated clockwise as indicated by arrow A inFIG. 10, the first arm 54 is rotated counterclockwise as indicated byarrow P in FIG. 12 by the arm rotation control pin 59. Thus the opticaldisc D is fed towards the disc feed guide unit 2, as it is guided alongthe feed guide section 49a of the disc feed guide member 49 by the firstarm 54.

Meanwhile, if the first arm 54 is rotated in the direction shown byarrow P in FIG. 12, for feeding the optical disc D towards the discreproducing unit 2, the arm rotation control pin 59 of the rotating disc60 is rotated as it is thrust against the linear third cam section 58cof the second cam groove 58 of the second arm 55. With rotation of thearm rotation control pin 59, the second arm 55 is rotated up to theposition slightly spaced apart from the outer periphery of the opticaldisc D. This position is such a position in which the optical disc D isnot loaded by the end roll 68. That is, the second arm 55 is rotatedcounterclockwise as indicated by arrow Q in FIG. 11, against the bias ofthe torsion coil spring 62 rotationally biasing the second arm 55towards the first arm 54. Since no thrusting force is exerted on theoptical disc D under the bias of the torsion coil spring 62, the opticaldisc D is smoothly fed towards the loading position on the discreproducing unit 2 by the first arm 54, as the disc is guided by thedisc feed guide member 49.

If then the rotating disc 60 is further rotated clockwise as indicatedby arrow A in FIG. 12, the arm rotation control pin 59 is made to bearagainst the third cam section 58c of the second cam groove 58 providedin the second arm 55 and is rotated as it thrusts the third cam section58c, as shown in FIG. 13. As the rotating disc 60 is further rotated inthe direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 13, the arm rotation controlpin 59 is rotationally moved from the third cam section 58c towards thesecond cam section 58b. When the arm rotation control pin 59 justreaches the boundary between the third cam section 58c and the secondcam section 58b, the optical disc D reaches the disc loading positionwithin the disc reproducing unit 2. At this time, the optical disc D issupported by the end rolls 65, 68 of the first and second arms 54 and55, as shown in FIG. 13.

At this time, the first cam groove 57 formed in the first arm 54 iscoincident with the first and second cams 58a, 58b of the second camgroove 58 formed in the second arm 55. Since the first cam 57 and thefirst and second cam sections 58a, 58b of the second cam 58 are formedas curved portions having the same curvature, and have the center ofcurvature coincident with the pivot 56 as the center of rotation of therotating disc 60. Consequently, since the arm rotation control pin 59 ishalted at some position within the range of the coincident curvature ofthe first cam section 57 and the second cam section 58, the optical discD is maintained in such state in which the optical disc D is halted atthe disc loading position of the disc reproducing unit 2.

With the above-described disc transporting mechanism, in which the armrotation control pin 59 is provided at an offset position of therotating disc 60 which is rotated by the rotational driving of thedriving motor 61, and the pin 59 is passed through the first and secondcam grooves 57 and 58 formed in the first and second arms 54, 55, thefirst and second arms 54, 55 may be rotated simultaneously by therotation of the rotating disc 60. Additionally, the distance C betweenthe end rolls 5 and 68 provided at one ends of the first arm 54 and thesecond arm 55, respectively, can be changed during rotation of thesearms 54, 55 by changes in profile of the first and second cam grooves57, 58, especially changes in profile from the first cam section 58atowards the third cams section 58c of the second cam groove 58 in thesecond arm 55.

By changing the distance C between the end rolls 65, 68 of the first andsecond arms 54, 55 during rotation of these arms 54, 55, the end rolls65, 68 of the first and second arms 54, 55 may be made to follow thetrajectory of the optical disc D when the optical disc D contained andheld within the disc housing unit 2 is taken upwardly of the dischousing unit 2 by clockwise rotation of the rotating disc 60 in thedirection indicated by arrow A in FIG. 6 and the optical disc D thustaken out is transported as far as the disc loading position of the discreproducing unit 43 under control by the end rolls 65, 68 at one ends ofthe first and second arms 54, 55 and the curved feed guide section 49aof the disc feed guide member 49. That is, the feed trajectory of theoptical disc D may be freely changed by setting the curvature of thecurved feed guide section 49a provided in the disc feed guide section49a.

Thus it becomes possible to provide an elliptical disc movementtrajectory D₂ having a low height relative to a completely arcuate discmovement trajectory D₁ which is provided in case the distance C betweenthe end rolls 65 and 68 of the first and second arms 54, 55 is fixed, sothat it becomes possible to realize the disc transporting mechanism 42having a small movement space for the optical disc D.

It may be seen from the operation shown in FIGS. 6 to 14 that, due tothe profile of the first cam groove 57 in the first arm 54, thedirection of rotation in the initial stage of the first and second arms54, 55 is clockwise until the arm rotation control pin 59 provided at anoffset position of the rotating disc 60 is perpendicular to the pivot 56which pivotally mounts the disc 60 and which serves as the center ofrotation of the disc 60. At this time, the end roll 68 provided at oneend of the second arm 55 is contacted with the outer periphery of theoptical disc D housed within the disc housing unit 2. However, if thereis no optical disc D housed within the disc inserting slit 6 of the unit2 which is to be selected, the second arm 55 is rotated further in theclockwise direction. The detection switch 70 for the presence or absenceof the optical disc D is thrust by the switch operating section 55 atthe other end, as shown in FIG. 14, and is thereby turned on.

In short, due to the profile of the first to third cam sections 58a to58c formed in the second cam groove 58 formed in the second arm 55, thepossible presence of the optical disc D to be taken out may be detectedat an earlier time point in the initial stage since the start of therotation of the first and second arms 54, 55. In addition, by settingthe center of curvature of the arc up to the first and second camsections 57a, 57b in the first cam groove 57 in the first arm 54 and thefirst and second cam sections 58a, 58b in the second cam groove 58 inthe second arm 55 so as to be coincident with the center of the pivot 56which is the center of rotation of the rotating disc 60, a certainallowance may be provided in the stop angle of the rotating disc 60 atthe loading position of the optical disc D relative to the discreproducing unit 2.

Even if the arm rotation control pin 59 should be halted at someposition in which the first and second cam sections 57a, 57b formed inthe first cam groove 57 in the first arm 54 are overlapped with theportions from the first cam section 58a to the second cam section 58bformed in the second cam 58 in the second arm 55, there is no changeproduced in the position of the optical disc D transported to the discloading position of the disc reproducing unit 2, such that a feedoperation of the optical disc D may be realized with high reliability.

In the disc reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment, a housingunit rotation control mechanism 73 is provided in the vicinity of thedisc transporting mechanism 42. The housing unit rotation controlmechanism 73 has a stop member 75 rotatably mounted about a pivot 74 setupright on the lower end of the disc reproducing unit mounting substrate51 mounted within the outer casing 1 as the center of rotation, as shownin FIG. 3. The stop member 75 is rotationally biased clockwise at alltimes as indicated by arrow B in FIG. 3 by a tension spring 76 mountedunder tension between a spring retainer 76a formed by segmenting andbending a portion of the lower end portion of the disc reproducing unitmounting substrate 51 and another spring retainer 76b provided at oneend of the stop member 75.

The stop member 75 is formed with a rotation suppressing section 77 atthe other end thereof extended towards the corder of the outer casing 1.The rotation suppressing section 77 is caused to bear against the armrotation control pin 59 provided on the rotating disc 60 adapted forrotating the first and second arms 54, 55 of the disc transportingmechanism 42, as shown in FIG. 3, for suppressing clockwise rotation ofthe stop member 75 under the bias of the tension spring 76. On one endof the stop member 75 is set a stop pin 78 which is protruded towardsthe engagement recess 10 formed in the outer peripheral surface of therotary table 5.

If, with the disc transporting operation by the disc transportingmechanism 42, the arm rotation control pin 59 provided on the rotatingdisc 60 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 3, with the pivot 56 as the centerof rotation, the stop member 75 is rotated clockwise as indicated byarrow S in FIG. 3, with the pivot 74 as the center of rotation. At thistime, the stop pin 78 set on one end of the stop member 75 is engaged inone of the engagement recesses 10 in register with the disc insertingslits 6 formed in the outer periphery of the rotary table 5 which isassociated with the disc inserting slit 6 engaged by the designatedoptical disc D transported by the disc transporting mechanism 42. By thestop pin 78 being engaged in the engagement recess 8, rotation of thedisc housing unit 2 inclusive of the rotary table 5 may be controlled.Thus the housing unit rotation suppressing mechanism 73 provides aprotection mechanism in the course of the reproduction and transport ofthe optical disc D.

In the present embodiment, an opening width W₁ of each recess 8 is setso as to be slightly larger than the diameter of the stop pin 78.Consequently, if a small error is produced in the stop angle of therotary table 5, the disc inserting slit 6 of the rotary table 5, inwhich the optical disc D as designated to be transported to andreproduced by the disc reproducing unit 2 is inserted, may be correctedso as to be accurately positioned in register with the disc transportingmechanism 42.

The disc reproducing unit 3, constituting the disc reproducing apparatusaccording to the present invention, will now be explained.

The disc reproducing unit 3 is mounted on the disc reproducing unitmounting substrate 51 arranged within the outer casing 1. The discreproducing unit 3 includes, as shown in FIGS. 3, 15 and 17, a discrotating driving mechanism 80, provided with a disc table 81 for loadingthe optical disc D transported by the disc transporting mechanism 42,and an optical pickup unit 82 as reproducing means for radiating a lightbeam onto the signal recording surface of the optical disc D loaded androtated on the disc rotating driving mechanism 80 for reproducinginformation signals, such as music signals, recorded on the optical discD. The optical pickup unit 82 includes an optical pickup having anobjective lens for converging and radiating the light beam outgoing froma light source, such as a semiconductor laser, onto the signal recordingsurface of the optical disc D. The optical pickup is supported by aslide guide shaft and fed by a pickup feed driving mechanism in theradial direction of the optical disc D loaded on the disc rotatingdriving mechanism 80 for scanning the signal recording surface of theoptical disc D across its inner and outer rims.

The disc reproducing unit 3 is mounted so that the rotary axis of thedisc rotating driving mechanism 80 is at right angles to the pivot 4which is the center of rotation of the disc housing unit 2. Thus theoptical disc D loaded on the disc rotational driving mechanism 80 andthere rotated has its plane of rotation parallel to the axis of thepivot 4 of the disc housing unit 2, as shown in FIGS. 3, 15 and 17. Byarranging the disc housing unit 2 in this manner, the optical disc D,which is contained and held within the disc housing unit 2, with itsmajor surface extending substantially parallel to the pivot 4, istransported by the disc transporting mechanism 42 and loaded on the discreproducing unit 3 without changing the direction of insertion into thedisc housing unit 2.

The concrete construction of the disc reproducing unit 3 is hereinafterexplained. The disc rotating and driving mechanism 80 and the opticalpickup 82 are mounted on a pickup chassis, not shown, on a substantiallybox-shaped pickup chassis supporting substrate 83, in order toconstitute a unitary disc reproducing block.

The disc reproducing unit mounting substrate 51 is mounted parallel tothe axial direction of the pivot 4 of the disc housing unit 2, that is,in a direction substantially normal to the bottom surface of the outercasing 1, as shown in FIGS. 3, 15 and 17. Thus the plane of rotation ofthe optical disc D, loaded and rotated on the disc rotating drivingmechanism 80, is parallel to the axis of the pivot 4 of the disc housingunit 2. With the disc housing unit 2, arranged in this manner, theoptical disc D, contained and held in the disc housing unit 2 with itsmajor surface substantially parallel to the pivot 4, is transported bythe disc transporting unit 42 and loaded on the disc reproducing unit 3without changing the direction of insertion into the disc housing unit2.

Turning to the concrete constitution of the disc reproducing unit 3, thedisc rotating driving mechanism 80 and the optical pickup unit 82 aremounted on a substantially box-shaped pickup chassis supportingsubstrate 83, on a pickup chassis, not shown, for constituting a unitarydisc reproducing block.

The disc reproducing unit mounting substrate 51 is mounted parallel tothe axis of the pivot 4 of the disc housing unit 2, that is,substantially upright on the bottom surface of the outer casing 1, asshown in FIGS. 3, 15 and 17. On the disc reproducing unit mountingsubstrate 51, a disc driving supporting substrate 84 is rotatablymounted on a pivot 85 mounted on the upper end of the mounting substrate84, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 17. The pickup chassis supporting substrate83 is mounted depending from an oscillatable plate 87 resilientlysupported by the disc driving unit supporting substrate 84 s a floatingmechanism 86. The pickup chassis supporting substrate 83 carrying thedisc rotating driving mechanism 80 and the optical pickup unit 82 andthe oscillatable plate 87 mounting the pickup chassis supportingsubstrate 83 make up first supporting means for the disc reproducingunit 3. That is, the first supporting means constitutes disc drivingunit supporting means for the disc reproducing unit 3.

The disc driving unit supporting substrate 84, rotatably supporting thepickup chassis supporting substrate 83 by means of the oscillatableplate 87 on the disc reproducing unit mounting substrate 51 fixedlymounted on the outer casing 1 constituting the main body of theapparatus, constitutes second supporting means for the disc reproducingunit 3. The second supporting means is used as disc driving unitrotating and supporting means.

In the oscillatable plate 87, there are bored three through-holes, inwhich is engaged a supporting pin 88 set on the disc driving unitsupporting substrate 84. The floating unit 86 is arranged between theoscillatable plate 87 and the disc driving unit supporting substrate 84,and is made up of a coil spring 89, passed through by the supporting pin88, and a damper 90 mounted surrounding a through-hole bored in theoscillatable plate 87. Three of such floating units 86 are provided inassociation with supporting pins 88.

A plurality of lock pin inserting through-holes 91 are bored in theoscillatable plate 87 in the vicinity of the floating units 86. The discdriving unit supporting substrate 84 is formed with a lock pin 92selectively introduced through the lock pin inserting through-holes 91.The lock pin 92 has a tapered distal end. The lock pin insertingthrough-holes 91, bored through the oscillatable plate 87, is of adiameter substantially equal to the diameter of the proximal endopposite to the tapered distal end of the lock pin 92. Consequently,when the tapered distal end of the lock pin 92 is inserted into the lockpin inserting through-holes 91, the enlarged proximal end of the lockpin 92 is retained in the lock pin inserting through-holes 91 forsuppressing the movement of the oscillating plate 87.

With the present disc reproducing apparatus, there is provided afloating lock mechanism 93 for suppressing a resilient force afforded bythe floating unit 86. The floating lock mechanism 93 has a lock leveroverlying and extending laterally of the oscillatable plate 87. The locklever 94 has its one end rotatably mounted by a pivot 95 on the lateralend face of the disc driving unit supporting substrate 84.

On the left-hand side of the lock lever 94 in FIG. 15, there is mounteda first spring mounting member 96. On the lower surface of the discdriving unit supporting substrate 84, there is mounted a second springretention member 97 in register with the first spring retention member96 provided on the oscillatable plate 87. Between these first and secondspring retention members 96 and 97, there is mounted a tension spring98. Thus the lock lever 94 is rotationally biased by the tension spring98 in the direction shown by arrow T in FIG. 17 about the pivot 95 asthe center of rotation. Thus the lock lever 87 biases the oscillatableplate 87 downwards. Thus the oscillatable plate 87 is thrust against thebias of the damper 90 and the spring 89 in a direction of approachingthe disc driving unit supporting substrate 84. By the oscillatable plate87 being thrust towards the disc driving unit supporting substrate 84,the tapered distal end of the lock pin 92 is introduced into the lockpin inserting through-holes 91 for retaining the enlarged proximal endin the lock pin inserting through-holes 91. The result is that theoscillatable plate 87 and the disc driving unit supporting substrate 84are connected to each other and immobilized with a pre-set distancetherebetween.

On the opposite side of the lock lever 94, opposite to its supportingside by the pivot 95, there is mounted a tongue piece 94a for dependingfrom the outer casing 1 into a region of extension of the pickup chassissupporting substrate 83. On the tongue piece 94a is set an engagementpin 101 introduced into a guide opening 100 bored in a slider 99 aslater explained. The slider 99 is movable vertically of the outer casing1 by a vertical movement mechanism 102 with respect to the discreproducing unit mounting substrate 51.

The vertical movement mechanism 102 for moving the slider 99 is mountedon the opposite surface of the disc reproducing unit mounting substrate51 to that mounting the disc reproducing unit 3, as shown in FIG. 17.The vertical movement mechanism 102 is made up of a driving motor 103mounted on the other surface of the disc reproducing unit mountingsubstrate 51 and a speed-reducing gear 104 made up of a plurality ofgears. The gears making up the speed-reducing gear 104 are rotatablymounted by a pivot mounted on the disc reproducing unit mountingsubstrate 51. That is, the vertical movement mechanism 102 constitutes athird driving unit of the present reproducing apparatus along with thedriving motor 103.

The rotational driving power of the driving motor 103 is transmitted tothe speed-reducing gear 104 by means of a driving power transmittingbelt 105 placed around a pulley 103b mounted on an output shaft 103a ofthe driving motor 103 and a pulley 104a constituting the speed-reducinggear 104, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. The driving motor 103 isrotationally driven in either direction, that is, in a forward directionand in a reverse direction. The final stage of the speed-reducing gear104, to which the rotational driving power of the driving motor 103 istransmitted, has a main gear 106 which is driven in both the forward andreverse directions, depending on the direction of rotation of thedriving motor 103.

The major surface of the main gear 106 facing the disc reproducing unitmounting substrate 51 is formed with a spirally extending groove 107engaged by an engagement pin 107 set on the slider 99. When the drivingmotor 103 and hence the speed-reducing gear 104 are run in rotation, sothat the main gear 106 is rotated, the slider 99 is moved verticallywith the rotation in the forward and reverse directions of the main gear106 about the pivot 106a as the center of rotation.

The slider 99 is formed by a metal plate which is bent in thecross-sectional form of a letter U, as shown in FIG. 16. The upper endof the slider 99 is formed with a pair of lugs 99a, 99b protrudedtowards the disc reproducing unit 3. The lug 99a has the arcuate guideopening 100 passed through by the engagement pin 101 set on the locklever 94, as shown in FIG. 17.

The disc driving unit supporting substrate 84, rotatably supported bymeans of the pivot 85 mounted on the upper end of the disc reproducingunit mounting substrate 51 is rotated in a direction indicated by arrowE in FIG. 18, about the pivot 95 as the center of rotation, by theslider 99 being moved downward towards the bottom of the outer casing 1by the driving of the vertical movement mechanism 102. That is, the locklever 94 is rotated so that its supporting side with respect to theslider 99 is moved towards bottom side of the outer casing 1. By suchrotation of the lock lever 94, the lock lever 94 thrusts theoscillatable plate 94 downwards for joining the oscillatable plate 87with the disc driving unit supporting substrate 84. On the other hand,with rotation of the lock lever 94 in a direction E in FIG. 18, the discdriving unit supporting substrate 84 is rotated in the same direction asthe end of the vertical movement mechanism 102, about the pivot 85 asthe center of rotation.

When the engagement pin 108 set on the slider 99 reaches the lower deadpoint of the spiral groove 107 formed in the main gear 106, downwardmovement of the slider 99 ceases. The oscillatable plate 87 is joinedwith the disc driving unit supporting substrate 84 and inclined an angleΘ with respect to the horizontal, as shown in FIG. 17. Consequently, thepickup chassis supporting substrate 83, depending from the oscillatableplate 87, and mounting the disc rotating driving mechanism 80 and theoptical pickup unit 82, is also inclined by the angle Θ with respect toa plumb line. The disc table 81 of the disc rotating driving mechanism80, mounted on the pickup chassis supporting substrate 83, is held at aposition spaced apart from the optical disc D transported within thedisc reproducing unit 3.

When the slider 99 is moved by the vertical movement mechanism 102towards an upper part of the outer casing 1, the lock lever 94 isrotated in a direction opposite to the direction of arrow E in FIG. 18.With the rotation of the lock lever 94, downward thrusting of theoscillatable plate 87 is released. The oscillatable plate 87 isresiliently supported by means of the floating unit 86 by the discdriving unit supporting substrate 84. With rotation of the lock lever94, the disc driving unit supporting substrate 84 is rotated in the samedirection as the lock lever 94 about the pivot 85 as the center ofrotation. That is, the disc driving unit supporting substrate 84 isrotated so that its supporting side with respect to the verticalmovement mechanism 102 is directed towards the upper side of the outercasing 1.

When the engagement pin 108 set on the slider 99 reaches the upper deadpoint of the spiral groove 107 formed in the main gear 106, upwardmovement of the slider 99 towards an upper side of the outer casing 1ceases. The result is that the oscillatable plate 87 is resilientlysupported by the disc driving unit supporting substrate 84 by means ofthe floating mechanism 86 with the plate surface lying horizontally. Thepickup chassis supporting substrate 83 provided on the oscillatableplate 87 depends at this time along the plumb line as shown in FIG. 18.The disc table 81 of the disc rotating driving mechanism 80 mounted onthe pickup chassis supporting substrate 83 approaches the optical disc Dtransported within the disc reproducing unit 3. The optical disc D isloaded in position on the disc table 81.

On the disc reproducing unit mounting substrate 51 is mounted a chuckmechanism 111 for chucking the optical disc D loaded on the disc table81 along with the disc table 81. The chuck mechanism 111 has a chuckmember supporting arm 113 carrying a chuck member 115 having an endmagnet. The chuck member supporting arm 113 is rotatably supported by apivot 112 by having its proximal end disposed above the outer casing 1pivotally mounted by a pivot 112 mounted on the disc reproducing unitmounting substrate 51. The chucking member 115 is supported by thedistal end of the chucking member supporting arm 113 in opposition tothe disc table 81 of the disc rotating driving mechanism 80.

The chuck member 115 is made up of a cylindrical bobbin having endflanges and a ring-shaped magnet fitted within the bobbin. The chuckmember 115 is rotatably mounted on the chuck member supporting arm 113by having the bobbin fitted in an engaging hole 114 formed at the distalend of the supporting arm 113. Besides, the chuck member 115 issafeguarded against extrication by a flange, not shown, on both ends ofthe bobbin.

The chuck member supporting arm 113 has an elliptically-shapedengagement opening 114 having an opening width continuously decreasingtowards the distal end of the chuck member supporting arm 113. Theengagement opening 114 towards the distal end of the chuck membersupport arm 113 has a thickened portion 113a having a heightsubstantially equal to the distance between the bobbin flanges, as shownin FIG. 17. The thickened portion 113a is engaged in a space between theflanges when the chuck member 115 is spaced apart from the disc table 81for suppressing free movement of the chuck member 115.

The chuck member supporting arm 113 has a guide 121 for guiding themovement of the chuck member 115 loosely fitted in the engagementopening 114 towards the center of the disc table 81 as the chuck membersupporting arm 113 is rotated towards the disc table 81. The guide 121is inclined towards the inner periphery of the engagement opening 114,as shown in FIG. 18.

The lug 99b positioned towards the chuck mechanism 111 provided on theslide 99 has a chuck mechanism rotation pin 122 thereon. The chuckmember supporting arm 113 is rotationally biased by a tension spring,not shown, in a direction in which the chuck member 115 approaches thedisc table 81. By the chuck member supporting arm 113 being rotationallybiased by the tension spring, the guide 121 is made to bear perpetuallyagainst the chuck mechanism rotation pin 122 provided on the slider 99.

Consequently, when the slide 99 is positioned at the lower dead point,the chuck mechanism rotation pin 122 thrusts the guide 121 of the chuckmember supporting arm 113 in a direction away from the disc table 81against the bias of a tension spring, not shown. Thus the chuck membersupporting arm 113 is spaced apart from the disc table 81 inclinedrelative to the plumb line, as shown in FIG. 17. When the slide 99 ismoved towards the upper side of the outer casing 1 by the verticalmovement mechanism 102, the thrust exerted by the chuck mechanismrotation pin 122 is gradually released, so that the chuck membersupporting arm 113 is rotated towards the disc table 81 under the biasof a tension spring, not shown. The chuck mechanism rotation pin 122 ismoved towards the upper side of the outer casing as it is contacted withthe guide 121.

The distal end of the chuck member supporting arm 113 carries a retainer123. The disc reproducing unit mounting substrate 51 has a stop, notshown, facing the retainer 123. As the slide 99 is moved towards theupper side of the outer casing 1, the thrust of the chuck mechanismrotation pin 122 on the guide 121 is gradually released, so that, whenthe chuck member supporting arm 113 approaches the disc table 81 underthe force of the tension spring, the retainer 123 is abutted against thestop, thus controlling the rotationally biased position of the chuckmember supporting arm 113 by the tension spring.

When the chuck member supporting arm 113 is rotated towards the disctable 81, the optical disc D, transported within the disc reproducingunit 3, is loaded in position on the disc table 81, by having its centeropening engaged by a centering member provided on the disc table 81.That is, the optical disc D, loaded on the disc table 81, is thrust andsupported by the chuck member 115 attracted by the magnet so that thedisc D is enabled to be rotated in unison with the disc table 81.

The lock lever 94 continues to be rotated with the upward movement ofthe slide towards the upper side of the outer casing 1. During suchrotation, the disc driving unit supporting substrate 84 is abutted atits distal end against a retention pin 124 provided on the discreproducing unit mounting substrate 51, as shown in FIG. 18. Thus thedisc driving unit supporting substrate 84 is maintained with its platesurface lying horizontally. At this time, the oscillatable plate 87 islifted under the force of the coil spring 89 of the floating unit 86.That is, the disc reproducing unit 3 is raised towards the upper side ofthe outer casing 1, under the bias of the coil spring 89 of the floatingunit 86, as the optical disc D is chucked with the major disc surfacelying vertically parallel to the pivot 4 of the disc housing unit 2. Thepickup chassis supporting substrate 83, carrying the disc rotatingdriving mechanism 80 and the optical pickup unit 82, is resilientlyfloatingly supported by the disc driving unit supporting substrate 84.

On the proximal side of the chuck member supporting arm 113, there ismounted a lever 113b extending horizontally towards the center of therotary table 1, as shown in FIG. 16. The lever 113b has its distal endpivotally mounted by a pivot 204 set on the disc reproducing unitmounting substrate 51 so as to be rotated about the pivot 204 as thecenter of rotation. The lever 113 has at its mid portion an elongatedopening 125 having its long axis extending in the longitudinaldirection. The elongated opening 125 is engaged by an engagement pin 126provided on an upper portion of the disc guide member 49 for beingprotruded towards the chuck member supporting arm 113. Consequently, asthe chuck member supporting arm 113 reaches the state of dependingvertically downward as a result of the upward travel of the slide 99towards the upper side of the outer casing 1, the disc feed guide member49 is rotated about the pivot 52 as the center of rotation so that thedisc feed guide 49a is spaced apart from the outer periphery of theoptical disc D.

That is, with the travel of the slide 99 towards the upper side of theouter casing 1, the chuck member 115 and the optical disc D are movedtowards the upper side of the outer casing 1. During such process, thedisc feed guide member 49 clears towards the upper side of the outercasing 1, as it maintains a predetermined distance from the optical discD being raised in its position. Thus the optical disc D may be preventedfrom being collided against the disc feed guide member 49.

As the slide 99 is further moved to above the outer casing 1, the locklever 94 is separated from the oscillatable plate 87. This completelyreleases the regulation of the resilient force exerted by the lock lever94 on the floating unit 86, so that the optical disc D is chucked by thedisc table 81 of the disc rotation mechanism 80 and enabled to berotated in unison with the disc table 81 to complete disc loading on thedisc reproducing unit 43.

As the disc rotation mechanism 80 of the disc reproducing unit 3 isdriven for running the optical disc D in rotation, the optical pickupunit 82 is fed along the radius of the disc D for reproducinginformation signals, such as music signals, recorded on the optical discD.

Since the lock mechanism 93 is provided in the present embodiment forselectively controlling the resilient force of the floating unit 86, thefollowing advantages may be produced.

The floating unit 86 includes a structure of interrupting the route ofvibrations with an elastic member, such as rubber, or a spring, such asa coil spring, for preventing wasteful vibrations from outside theapparatus from being transmitted to the optical pickup unit 82 forreading information signals recorded on the optical disc D in acontact-free manner with respect to the disc rotation mechanism 81rotationally driving the optical disc D.

On the other hand, with the disc reproducing unit 3 supported by thefloating unit 86, there is a risk of the disc rotation mechanism 80being changed in its position relative to the optical disc D beingtransported. Thus there may be occasions wherein the optical disc Dtransported within the disc reproducing unit 3 is unable to be loaded inposition on the disc table 81 of the disc rotation mechanism 80. Thatis, there is a risk that it becomes impossible to perform a centeringoperation of engaging the center opening of the optical disc D by thecentering member provided on the disc table 80.

However, with the disc reproducing apparatus according to the presentinvention, the resilient deviation of the floating unit 86 isimmobilized by the floating unit 86 until such time as the optical discD is taken out of the disc housing unit 2 and transported to the discloading position on the disc reproducing unit 3 so as to be loaded onthe disc table 81. Thus the center opening of the optical disc D may becorrectly coincided with the centering member of the disc table 81 forassuring positive loading of the optical disc D on the disc table 81.

For returning the optical disc D loaded on the disc reproducing unit 3back into the disc housing unit 2, the vertical movement mechanism 102is actuated for moving the slide 99 towards the lower side of the outercasing 1. Such movement of the slide 99 causes the chuck supporting arm113 to be rotated under the bias of the tension spring and separates thechuck member 115 from the optical disc D on the disc table 81 forreleasing the chuck of the optical disc D relative to the disc table 81.The optical disc D, thus released from chucking, is now supported on theend rolls 65, 68 on the first and second arms 54, 55 of the disctransporting mechanism 42. The driving motor 61 of the disc transportingmechanism 42 is rotated in reverse for rotating the disc 60counterclockwise in FIG. 15. This causes the optical disc to be returnedinto the disc housing unit 2, with the disc having two points on itsouter peripheral surface being supported by the end rolls 65, 68 of thefirst and second arms 54, 55. Thus the optical disc D is inserted intothe disc inserting slit 6 in the rotary table 5.

The rotary table 5 has its rotation controlled by the housing unitrotation control mechanism 73 until the selected optical disc D is takenout by the disc transporting mechanism 42 and loaded for playback so asto be again returned into the disc housing unit 2. Thus the optical discD, which is returned into the disc housing unit 2 after completion ofreplay, is accurately returned into the disc inserting slit 6 allocatedthereto.

The housing unit rotational position detection mechanism 44, fordetecting whether the sole optical disc D selected from a large numberof the optical discs D contained in the disc housing unit 2 is in astate of having been moved by the disc transporting mechanism 42 to aposition ready to be taken out of the disc housing unit 2, ishereinafter explained.

The housing unit rotational position detection mechanism 44 is made upof a rotation detection member 131 mounted on the lower outer peripheryof the tubular disc support 7 provided on the lower side of the rotarytable 5 and a photodetector 132 arranged at a takeout enabling positionby the disc transporting mechanism 42, as shown in FIG. 3.

The rotation detection member 131 is made up of a first annulardetection plate 133a and a second annular detection plate 133b providedat different diameter positions of the disc support member 7. The firstdetection member 133a is larger in diameter than the second detectionmember 133b and has a series of protrusions and recesses formedcircumferentially at a predetermined pitch on its lower end face. Thatis, in the present embodiment, the protrusions and recesses are formedat a pitch equal to that of the 100 disc inserting slits 6 formed in therotary table 1. Consequently, 100 of the protrusions 134 are formed inthe present embodiment.

The second detection plate 133b is positioned inwardly of the firstdetection plate 133a, and has a series of protrusions and recessesarranged at a different pitch along its circumference on its lower endface. In the present embodiment, the disc inserting slit 6 correspondingto a point shown by arrow O in FIG. 4, that is, a home position, isdefined as the first disc inserting slit, with the disc number of theoptical disc D inserted into the disc inserting slit 6 being defined as"1". The disc number is incremented in the plus direction in thedirection indicate by arrow F₁, with the disc number immediately aheadof the disc number "1" being "100".

The second detection plate 133b has no protrusion at a positionregistering with the disc number "1", and has a protrusion having aposition registering with the disc number "11" and a positionregistering with the disc number "12" as its one end face and its otherend face, respectively. Thus the protrusion has a width corresponding toone pitch in the arraying pitch of the disc inserting slits 6. Thesecond detection plate 133b has a protrusion having a positionregistering with the disc number "21" and a position registering withthe disc number "23" as its one end face and its other end face,respectively. Thus the protrusion has a width corresponding to twopitches in the array pitch of the disc inserting slits 6. The seconddetection plate also has a protrusion having a position registering withthe disc number "31" and a position registering with the disc number"34" as its one end face and its other end face, respectively. Theprotrusion has a width corresponding to three pitches in the array pitchof the disc inserting slits 6. Thus the second detection plate 133b hasprotrusions the widths of which are set so as to be longer than thearraying pitch of the disc inserting slits 6 at an interval of 10 discnumbers. In general, the protrusions of the second detection plate havepositions corresponding to the disc numbers "10n+1" (n=1, 2, 3, . . . 9)and positions corresponding to the disc numbers "11n+1" as one end facesand the other end faces, respectively, that is, the protrusions have thewidths equal to the pitch of n in the arraying pitch of the discinserting slits 6.

The photodetector 132 has three photosensors each of which is made up ofa light emitting element and a light receiving element. The first andsecond photosensors, arranged at a predetermined interval, areassociated with the first detection plate 133a, and the thirdphotosensor is provided for the second detection plate 133b. These firstto third photosensors are designed to emit high-level detection signals,for example, on detection of the protrusions of the associated detectionplates 133a and 133b.

These photosensors constitute first, second and third detection switchesSW1, SW2 and SW3 inserted between the ground GND and a controller 141which performs various arithmetic-logical operations and controloperations based upon various signals, as shown in FIG. 19. Thesedetection switches SW1 to SW3 are turned on each time the protrusion isdetected, and the controller 141 is fed with detection signals in theform of current changes derived from the turning on of the switches SW1to SW3.

The controller 141 supplies driving signals and deceleration demandsignals to a driving control circuit 142 based upon the demand forrotation of the rotary table 51. The demand for rotation of the rotarytable 51 is a command for moving the disc inserting slit 6 having theselected disc number to a position registering with the disctransporting mechanism 42. If the rotary table 5 is to be rotated acertain angle of rotation, for example, 40 pitches, in terms of thearraying pitch of the disc inserting slits 6, the driving signalsupplied to the driving control circuit 142 is such a pulse signal whichrises based upon the demand for rotation and which decays when 40 pulseshave been counted based upon the detection signals from thephotosensors. On the other hand, the deceleration signal is such a pulsesignal which rises at a time point when there are 40 remaining pitchesand which decays when 40 pitches have been counted as in the case of theabove-mentioned driving signals.

During the time only the driving signals are supplied to the drivingcontrol circuit, the driving control circuit 142 transmits the drivingcurrent of a predetermined level to the driving motor 45 of the housingunit rotating driving mechanism 41. When the deceleration demand signalis fed, the driving current supplied to the driving motor 45 iscontinuously decreased in level. The circuit arrangement is so made thatthe driving current is lowered to a zero level when the 40 pitches havebeen counted. If the rotational angle is less than 10 pitches, thedriving signal and the deceleration demand signal rise simultaneously.

An example of stop control for the rotary table 5 based upon thedetection signals from the first to third photosensors is explained byreferring to the signal waveform diagrams of FIGS. 20 to 22.

If the rotary table 5 is rotated in a direction shown by arrow F₂ inFIG. 4, by the rotational driving of the driving gear 47 by the drivingmotor 45 of the housing unit rotating driving mechanism 41, detectionsignal waveforms shown in FIGS. 20 to 22 are output from the respectivephotosensors. The waveform of the detection signal S1 from the firstphotosensor has a phase difference from that of the detection signal S2from the second photosensor equal to the distance between the respectivephotosensors.

In the present embodiment, the time periods during which both thedetection signals S1 and S2 are at high levels indicate the stopposition for the optical disc D. For example, if it is desired to stopthe optical disc D having the disc number "7" at the takeout enablingposition by the disc transporting mechanism 42, the rotary table 5 ishalted on detection of the seventh protrusion by both of the first andsecond photosensors. Consequently, with the present example, the spacingwidth between the sensors is set so that the detection signals S1 and S2from the first and second photosensors, such as their high-levelperiods, are partially overlapped with each other.

If, during the period when the detection signal S3 from the thirdphotosensor is at high level, the number of the pulse signal formed byANDing the detection signals S1 and S2 from the first and secondphotosensors is one, the optical disc D corresponding to the disc number"12" is positioned at the loading position A at a time point when thedecay of the detection signal S3 is detected. Similarly, if, during thehigh-level period of the detection signal S3, the number of the pulsesignal generated by ANDing the detection signals S1 and S2 from thefirst and second photosensors is two, the optical disc having the discnumber "23" is positioned at a takeout enabling position by the disctransporting mechanism 42 at a time point when the decay of thedetection signal S3 is detected.

Thus, if the rotary table 5 is rotated in the direction indicated byarrow F₂ in FIG. 4, and the number of the pulse signals formed by ANDingthe detection signals S1 and S2 from the first and second photosensorsduring the high-level period of the detection signal S3 is m (m=1, 2, 3,. . . 9), the optical disc D having the disc number "11m+1" is presentat the takeout enabling position by the disc transporting mechanism 42at a time point when the decay of the detection signal S3 is detected.

On the other hand, if the rotary table 5 is rotated in the directionindicated by arrow F₂ in FIG. 4, and the number of the pulse signalsformed by ANDing the detection signals S1 and S2 from the first andsecond photosensors during the low-level period of the detection signalS3 is 9, the optical disc D having the disc number "21" is present atthe takeout enabling position by the disc transporting mechanism 42 at atime point when the decay of the detection signal S3 is detected.Additionally, if the number of the pulse signals formed by ANDing thedetection signals S1 and S2 from the first and second photosensorsduring the low-level period of the detection signal S3 is 8, the opticaldisc D having the disc number "31" is present at the takeout enablingposition by the disc transporting mechanism 42 at a time point when thedecay of the detection signal S3 is detected.

Thus, if the rotary table 5 is rotated in the direction indicated byarrow F₂ in FIG. 4, and the number of the pulse signals formed by ANDingthe detection signals S1 and S2 from the first and second photosensorsduring the low-level period of the detection signal S3 is m (m=9, 8, 7,. . . 2), the optical disc D having the disc number "10(11-m)+1" ispresent at the takeout enabling position O at a time point the rise ofthe detection signal S3 is detected.

It is noted that, during the exceptional period when the detectionsignal S3 is at a low level, it cannot be that the number of pulsesignals formed by ANDing the detection signals S1 and S2 from the firstand second photosensors is equal to 10. However, it may occur that thenumber of such pulse signals is equal to 11, in which case the opticaldisc D having the disc number "11" is present at the takeout enablingposition O at the time point of detection of rise of the detectionsignal S3.

Conversely, if the rotary table 5 is rotated in the direction indicatedby arrow F₁ in FIG. 4, and the number of the pulse signals formed byANDing the detection signals S1 and S2 from the first and secondphotosensors during the high-level period of the detection signal S3 is9, the optical disc D having the disc number "91" is present at thetakeout enabling position by the disc transporting mechanism 42 at atime point when the decay of the detection signal S3 is detected.Additionally, if the number of the pulse signals formed by ANDing thedetection signals S1 and S2 from the first and second photosensorsduring the high-level period of the detection signal S3 is 8, theoptical disc D having the disc number "81" is present at the takeoutenabling position by the disc transporting mechanism 42 at a time pointwhen the decay of the detection signal S3 is detected.

Thus, if the rotary table 5 is rotated in the direction indicated byarrow F₁ in FIG. 4, and the number of the pulse signals formed by ANDingthe detection signals S1 and S2 from the first and second photosensorsduring the high-level period of the detection signal S3 is m (m=9, 8, 7,. . . 1), the optical disc D having the disc number "10m+1" is presentat the takeout enabling position at a time point when the decay of thedetection signal S3 is detected.

On the other hand, if the rotary table 5 is rotated in the directionindicated by arrow F₂ in FIG. 4, and the number of the pulse signalsformed by ANDing the detection signals S1 and S2 from the first andsecond photosensors during the low-level period of the detection signalS3 is 2, the optical disc D having the disc number "89" is present atthe takeout enabling position O by the disc transporting mechanism 42 ata time point when the decay of the detection signal S3 is detected.Additionally, if the number of the pulse signals formed by ANDing thedetection signals S1 and S2 from the first and second photosensorsduring the low-level period of the detection signal S3 is 3, the opticaldisc D having the disc number "78" is present at the takeout enablingposition O by the disc transporting mechanism 42 at a time point whenthe decay of the detection signal S3 is detected.

Thus, if the rotary table 5 is rotated in the direction indicated byarrow F₁ in FIG. 4, and the number of the pulse signals formed by ANDingthe detection signals S1 and S2 from the first and second photosensorsduring the low-level period of the detection signal S3 is m (m=2, 3, 4,. . . 9), the optical disc D having the disc number "10(11-m)+1-m" ispresent at the takeout enabling position O at a time point when the riseof the detection signal S3 is detected.

It is noted that, during the exceptional period when the detectionsignal S3 is at a low level, it cannot be that the number of pulsesignals formed by ANDing the detection signals S1 and S2 from the firstand second photosensors is equal to 10. However, it may occur that thenumber of such pulse signals is equal to 11, in which case the opticaldisc D having the disc number "11" is present at the takeout enablingposition O at the time point of when detection of rise of the detectionsignal S3.

It is seen from above that the detection signal S3 from the thirdphotosensor is a signal indicating the range of the protrusions andrecesses having the different pitches in the second detection plate133b, referred to hereinafter as the range signal. At a time point whenthe rise and decay of the range signal is detected, the optical disc Dhaving the particular disc number has been rotated to the takeoutenabling position by the disc transporting mechanism 42.

It is now assumed that the rotary table 5 is halted when the opticaldisc D having the particular disc number has been moved to the takeoutenabling position O. If such halt position is shown conceptually asbeing an address employed in a memory, the halt position at the timepoint of detection of the rise and decay of the range signal (detectionsignal) may be conceived as being an absolute address of the opticaldisc D having the particular disc number.

On the other hand, the pulse signal formed by ANDing the detectionsignals S1 and S2 from the first and second photosensors indicates therelative address as contrasted with the absolute address indicated bythe range signal.

Specifically, if, from the state in which the rotary table 5 is haltedwith the optical disc D having the disc number "7" being at the takeoutenabling position, the rotary table 5 is to be halted with the opticaldisc D having the disc number "13" being at the takeout enablingposition, that is, if the rotary table is to be moved from the absoluteaddress "7" to the absolute address "13", the address is changed towardsthe right in the drawing as from the absolute address "7" in FIG. 20,for the direction of rotation indicated by arrow F₂ in FIG. 4. Ifattention is directed to the waveform of the detection signal S3 fromthe third photosensor, the high level appears only at the absoluteaddress "11". It may be seen that, by calculating the relative addressfor the period during which the detection signal S3 is at a high level,the absolute address for a time point when the detection signal S3 fromthe third photosensor S3 falls from the high level to the low level is"12". Thus it may be seen that the halt position corresponding to therelative address higher than "1" corresponds to the absolute address"13".

When the address is moved from the absolute address "13" to the absoluteaddress "22", it is seen before the start of the movement that thenumber of the relative address for which the detection signal S3 fromthe third photosensor is at a low level is "2". When movement isstarted, the relative address is incremented one by one. When countingthe sequentially updated relative addresses, since the number of therelative address at a time point when the detection signal S3 from thethird photosensor is changed from the low level to the high level is"9", the absolute address at the time point of change is "21". Thus thestop position for the relative address incremented by one is theabsolute address "22". The same may be said of the rotational movementin the direction of decreasing the relative address, indicated by arrowF₁ in FIG. 4.

Although the absolute address is not known at the time of power on, theabsolute address can be known at an early time by counting the number ofthe addresses for the domain for which the detection signal S3 from thethird photosensor is at a high level or at a low level, without it beingnecessary to make one complete rotation of the rotary table 5.

Thus, with the housing unit position detection mechanism 44 according tothe present embodiment, if it is desired to stop the rotary table 5 withthe optical disc D of the desired disc number contained in the dischousing unit 2 being at a takeout enabling position by the disctransporting mechanism 42, the optical disc D having the desired discnumber can be moved to and stopped at a predetermined takeout enablingposition O easily and accurately. In addition, it can be known promptlyat the time of power on which disc number is at the takeout enablingposition O by the disc transporting mechanism 42 without the necessityof making one complete revolution of the rotary table 5. Although one of100 optical discs D is moved to the takeout enabling position O, thenumber of the optical discs D contained in the disc housing unit may belarger or smaller than 100.

A modified embodiment of the disc reproducing apparatus according to thepresent invention is hereinafter explained.

The disc reproducing apparatus has the concrete constitution of the disctransporting mechanism for selectively taking out one of a large numberof optical discs D contained in the disc housing unit and transportingit as far as the loading position on the disc reproducing unit, thefloating unit and the floating lock mechanism different from that of theprevious embodiment. The floating unit is used for elasticallysupporting the disc reproducing unit for reproducing the optical disctransported thereto by the disc transporting mechanism on an outercasing constituting the main body of the apparatus, while the floatinglock mechanism is used for controlling the resilient power exerted bythe floating unit for securing the disc reproducing unit within theouter casing.

The parts or components which are the same as those used in the previousembodiment are correspondingly numbered and detailed description isomitted.

Similarly to the disc reproducing apparatus of the previous embodiment,the disc reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment has a dischousing unit 2 containing a large number of optical discs D within anouter casing 1 constituting the main body of the apparatus, as shown inFIGS. 23 to 25. As already explained in the previous embodiment, thedisc housing unit 2 is rotated clockwise and counterclockwise, about thepivot 4 as the center of rotation, by means of a housing unit rotatingand driving unit 41. The disc reproducing apparatus of the presentembodiment also includes a disc housing unit rotational positiondetection mechanism 44 for detecting the rotational position of the dischousing unit 2 similar to that provided in the previous embodiment.

With the disc reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment, a disctransporting mechanism 302 for selectively taking out one of the opticaldiscs D out of the disc housing unit 2 for transporting the disc to andloading it on a disc reproducing unit 301 includes a first arm 304 and asecond arm 305 making up a disc feed unit 303, a first rotatable cam 306for rotating the first and second arms 304, 305, and a cam rotatingdriving unit 307 for rotating the first rotatable cam 306, as shown inFIGS. 23, 26 and 27. The cam rotating and driving unit 307 constitutes asecond driving unit of the present apparatus along with the firstrotatable cam 306.

The disc transporting mechanism 302 includes a disc feed guide member300 for guiding the optical disc D taken out of the disc housing unit 2by the first and second arms 304, 305 constituting the disc feed unit303.

The first arm 304 constituting the disc feed unit 303 includes a discfeed arm 310 for feeding the optical disc D taken out of the dischousing unit 2, as shown in FIGS. 26 and 27. One end of the disc feedarm 310 carries a disc support piece of synthetic resin engaged by theouter periphery of the optical disc D being fed and an end roll 309slidingly contacted with the outer periphery of the optical disc D forassuring smooth rotation of the first arm 304. From the proximal end ofthe disc feed arm 310 is extended a rotating section 311 adapted forrotating the arm 310. On the rotating member 311 is set a first rotatingpin 313 adapted to have a pressure contact with a first cam 312 formedon the outer periphery of the first rotatable cam 306.

The second arm 305 has a disc detection arm 315 for detecting thepresence or absence of the optical disc D in the disc inserting slit 6in the disc housing unit 2 and for supporting the outer periphery of theoptical disc D being fed, as shown in FIGS. 26 and 27. The discdetection arm 315 has its one end fitted with a flanged roll 314 abuttedagainst the outer periphery of the optical disc D. The proximal end ofthe disc detection arm 315 is formed with a rotating section 316 forrotating the disc detection arm 315. The rotating section 316 is formedby bending the proximal end of the disc detection arm 315 over the discdetection arm 315 in the form of a letter U. On the distal end of therotating section 316 is set a second rotating pin 318 adapted for havingpressure contact with a second cam 317 formed on the outer periphery ofthe second rotatable cam 306. A switch actuating pin 320 for thrusting adisc detection switch 319 provided within the outer casing 1 is set asshown in FIG. 23 on a pin setting piece 320a protruded from one side ofthe rotating section 316.

A pivot shaft 321 is set on a connecting portion of the rotating section311 to the disc feed arm 310. The vicinity of the connecting portionbetween the rotating section 316 and the disc detection arm 315 ispivotally mounted by the pivot shaft 321. The first and second arms 304,305 are rotatable relative to one another with the pivot shaft 321 asthe center of rotation. By the first and second arms 304, 305 beingrotated about the pivot shaft 321 as the center of rotation, the endroll 309 on the disc feed arm 310 and the end roll 314 on the disc feedarm 315 approach or are separated from each other.

The first and second arms 304, 305 are rotationally biased for rotationin unison about the pivot shaft 321 by a torsion coil spring 322 woundabout the pivot shaft 321 in a direction shown by arrows P and Q in FIG.23, that is, in a direction in which the end roll 309 on the disc feedarm 310 and the end roll 314 on the disc detection arm 315 approach eachother. The torsion coil spring 322 has its first arm 322a and its otherarm 311b retained by a spring retainer 304a protruded from the first arm304 and by a spring retainer 305a protruded from the second arm 305 forrotationally biasing the first arm 304 and the second arm 305 in thedirections shown by arrows P and Q in FIG. 23.

The second rotating pin 318 set on the second arm 305 is passed throughan arcuate rotation limiting opening 323 formed in the rotating member311 of the first arm 304 for limiting the relative rotational positionof the first and second arms 304, 305 rotationally biased by the torsioncoil spring 322. That is, the first and second arms 304, 305 arecontrolled in their relative rotational positions in an opened statesuch that the end rolls 309, 314 on the first and second arms 304, 305support two points on the outer periphery of the optical disc D whichare spaced apart a distance large enough to prevent descent of theoptical disc D.

The first and second arms 304, 305, rotationally biased by the torsioncoil spring 322 for rotation in unison, are rotatably mounted about atubular support 327 as a center of rotation, by having the pivot shaft321 passed through the support 327 mounted on the distal end of aU-shaped bracket 326 mounted on a chassis base plate 325 arranged withinthe outer casing 1. The first arm 304 at this time is extended so thatthe disc support 308 and the end roll 309 mounted on one end of the discfeed arm 310 face the lower outer peripheral portion of the optical discD housed within the disc housing unit 2, as shown in FIG. 23. The secondarm 305 is extended so that the end roll 314 mounted on one end of thedisc detection arm 315 faces the upper outer peripheral portion of theoptical disc D contained in the disc housing unit 2, as shown in FIG.23. Thus the first and second arms 304, 305 are arranged within theouter casing 1 so that two outer peripheral points of the optical disc Dperpendicularly housed within the disc housing unit 2 will be sandwichedbetween and supported by the end rolls 309, 314.

The first and second arms 304, 305 have their first and second rotatingpins 313, 318 kept in pressure contact with the first and second cams312, 317 provided on the circumference of the first rotatable cam 306rotatably mounted on the chassis base plate 325, as shown in FIG. 23.That is, the first and second cams 312, 317 are clamped between thefirst and second rotating pins 312, 317. The first and second arms 304,305 are rotated about the pivot shaft 321 as the center of rotation bythe first rotatable cam 306 being rotated by the cam rotating anddriving unit 307.

The cam rotating and driving unit 307 for rotating the first rotatablecam 306 is made up of a driving motor 330 rotatable in both the forwardand reverse directions and a speed-reducing gearing 332 which is made upof a plurality of gears and to which the rotational driving force of thedriving motor 330 is transmitted by means of a transmission belt 331, asshown in FIGS. 24 and 25. The transmission belt 331 is placed between apulley 333 mounted on an output shaft 330a of the driving motor 330 anda pulley gear 334 disposed at the initial stage of the speed-reducinggear 332 for transmitting the driving power of the driving motor 330 tothe speed-reducing gearing 332. The speed-reducing gearing 332 isconnected to the first rotatable cam 306 by engaging a gear 332a at thelast stage with a follower gear 306a at the lower end of the firstrotatable cam 306.

The first and second cams 32, 317 provided on the first rotatable cam306 control the rotation of the first and second arms 304, 305,respectively, by the rotation of the first rotatable cam 306, whilecausing the first and second arms 304, 305 to be rotated in unison aftertaking the optical disc D out of the disc housing unit 2 for feeding theoptical disc D.

The concrete constitution of the first and second cams 312, 313,provided on the first rotatable cam 306 is hereinafter explained byreferring to FIG. 28 which is a developed plan view of these cams 312,317.

The first cam 312, rotationally controlling the first arm 304 with therotation of the first rotatable cam 306, has a first horizontal camsection 335 which, within the range of initial rotation of the firstrotatable cam 306 in the forward direction indicated by arrow X in FIGS.25 and 28, maintains the first arm 304 in a state of having been rotatedin the direction opposite to that shown by arrow P in FIG. 23, about thepivot 321 as the center of rotation, against the bias of the torsioncoil spring 322, to a position in which the disc supports 308 and theend roll 309 mounted on the first arm 304 are spaced apart downwardlyfrom the outer periphery of the optical disc D contained in the dischousing unit 2. That is, by maintaining the abutting height position ofthe first rotating pin 313 relative to the first cam 312, the firsthorizontal cam section 335 holds the first arm 304 at a predeterminedposition in which the first arm 304 has been rotated against the bias ofthe torsion coil spring 322.

The first cam 312 is formed with an inclined cam section 336 which isinclined downward towards a lower part of the first rotatable cam 306 incontinuation to the first cam section 335. The inclined cam section 336is operative with rotation of the first rotatable cam 306 to rotate thefirst arm 304 in a direction indicated by arrow P in FIG. 23 about thepivot 321 as the center of rotation. As the first arm 304 is rotated ina direction indicated by arrow P in FIG. 23, with forward rotation ofthe first rotatable cam 306 in a forward direction indicated by arrow Xin FIGS. 25 and 28, the disc support 308 and the roll 309 at the one endof the first arm are caused to bear against the outer periphery of theoptical disc D housed within the disc housing unit 2 in order to takeout the optical disc D upwards out of the housing unit 2 and in order tofeed the optical disc thus taken out to the disc loading position on thedisc reproducing unit 301.

The second cam 317, controlling the rotation of the second arm 305 withrotation of the first rotatable cam 306, has a first horizontal camsection 337 adapted for maintaining the state of the first arm 305 inwhich, at the initial rotational position of the first rotatable cam306, the second arm 305 has been rotated by the end roll 309 in thedirection opposite to that indicated by arrow Q in FIG. 23 about thepivot 321 as the center of rotation against the force of the torsioncoil spring 322 to a position spaced apart above the outer periphery ofthe optical disc D housed within the disc housing unit 2. That is, bymaintaining the abutting height position of the second rotating pin 318provided on the second arm 305 relative to the second cam 317, the firsthorizontal cam section 337 holds the second arm 305 at a predetermineposition in which the second arm has been rotated against the bias ofthe torsion coil spring 322.

The second cam 317 is formed with a first inclined cam section 338 whichis inclined towards an upper portion of the first rotatable cam 306 incontinuation to the first horizontal cam 337 for rotating the second arm305 in a direction indicated by arrow Q in FIG. 29 about the pivot 321as the center of rotation with rotation of the first rotatable cam 306in the forward direction indicated by arrow X in FIGS. 25 and 28. Thatis, when the second rotating pin 318 is abutted against the firstinclined cam section 338, the second arm 305 is rotated in a directionindicated by arrow Q in FIG. 29 under the bias of the torsion coilspring 322. With rotation of the second arm 305 in the directionindicated by arrow Q in FIG. 29, the end roll 314 provided at its oneend is caused to bear against the outer periphery of the optical disc Dcontained in the disc housing unit 2 for controlling rotation of thesecond arm 305 in the direction indicated by arrow Q in FIG. 29.

The first inclined cam section 338 provided on the second cam 317adapted for rotating the second arm 305 in the direction of arrow Q inFIG. 29 under the bias of the torsion coil spring 322 is provided on theside of the first cam 317 continuing to the inclined cam section 336 ofthe first horizontal cam section 335 provided on the first cam 312.Consequently, during the initial rotational state in which the firstrotatable cam 306 is rotated in the forward direction indicated by arrowX in FIGS. 25 and 28, the first arm 304 is rotated against the bias ofthe torsion clip spring 322 for maintaining the end roll 309 and thedisc support 308 in the spaced apart position from the outer peripheryof the optical disc D housed within the disc housing unit 2. On theother hand, when the first rotatable cam 306 is rotated in the forwarddirection indicated by arrow X in FIGS. 25 and 28, the second rotatingpin 318 thrusts the first inclined cam section 338, so that the secondarm 305 is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow Q in FIG. 29,under the bias of the torsion coil spring 322. If the optical disc D tobe transported is inserted in the disc inserting slit 6 of the dischousing unit 2 which is positioned in register with the disctransporting mechanism 302, the end roll 314 is made to bear against theouter periphery of the optical disc D for suppressing rotation of thesecond arm 305 in the direction of arrow Q in FIG. 29.

If, while the optical disc D to be transported is not held in the discinserting slit 6 of the optical disc housing unit 2 in register with thedisc transporting mechanism 302, the first rotatable cam 306 is rotatedin the forward direction indicated by arrow X in FIGS. 25 and 28, andthe second arm 305 is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow Q inFIG. 29, under the bias of the tension coil spring 322, as the first armcauses the second rotating pin 318 to be thrust against the firstinclined cam section 338, the end roll 314 is not contacted with theoptical disc D. Thus the second arm 305 is further rotated clockwise asindicated by arrow Q in FIG. 29, without being controlled as to itsrotation by the optical disc D. The disc detection switch 319 fordetecting the presence or absence of the optical disc D, provided on therotational trajectory of the second arm 302, is thrust by the switchactuating pin 320 set on the rotating section 316. By such actuation ofthe detection switch 319, it is electrically detected that there is nooptical disc D to be transported in the disc inserting slit 6 of thedisc housing unit 2 in register with the disc transporting mechanism302. On such actuation of the detection switch 319 by the second arm305, the operation of the driving motor 330 of the cam rotating drivingmechanism 307 rotationally driving the first rotatable cam 306 ceasesfor terminating the takeout operation of the optical disc D out of thedisc housing unit 2. Following the cessation of the takeout operation,the driving motor 330 is driven in reverse for rotating the firstrotatable cam 306 in reverse for restoring the first and second arms304, 305 to the initial positions shown in FIG. 23.

Thus the second arm 305, the rotation of which is controlled by thefirst rotatable cam 306, has the function of detecting whether there isthe optical disc D to be transported in the disc inserting slit 6 of thedisc housing unit 2.

The second cam 317 also has a second incline cam section 339 which isinclined towards the lower side of the first rotatable cam 306 incontinuation to the first inclined cam section 338 for causing rotationof the second arm 305 in the direction indicated by arrow Q in FIG. 29about the pivot 321 as the center of rotation as the first rotatable cam306 continues its forward rotation in the direction indicated by arrow Xin FIGS. 25 and 28. The second inclined cam section 339 formed on thesecond cam 317 has the beginning end in the forward direction of thefirst rotatable cam 306 substantially coincident with that of theinclined cam section 312, as shown in FIG. 28. Consequently, as thefirst rotatable cam 306 is rotated in the forward direction, the secondarm 305 is rotated in the direction shown by arrow P in FIG. 29 aboutthe pivot 321 as the center of rotation.

The first cam 312 and the second cam 317 are joined with each other atthe terminal end of the first rotatable cam 306 in the direction offorward rotation indicated by arrow X in FIGS. 25 and 28, as shown inFIG. 28. Consequently, if, after the first rotating pin 313 reaches theinclined cam section 336 provided on the first cam 312 and the secondrotating pin 318 reaches the second inclined cam section 339 of thesecond cam 317, the first rotatable cam 306 continues its rotation inthe forward direction indicated by arrow X in FIGS. 25 and 28, the firstarm 304 and the second arm 305 are rotated in unison in the directionindicated by arrow P in FIG. 29, about the pivot 321 as the center ofrotation, while a predetermined constant distance is maintained betweenthe arm ends fitted with the end rolls 309, 314.

At the terminal ends of the first rotatable cam 306 in the direction offorward rotation thereof indicated by arrow X in FIGS. 25 and 28 wherethe first cam 312 is joined with the second cam 317, first and secondcam sections 341, 342 are formed in continuation to the inclined camsections 336, 339, respectively. As the first rotatable cam 306 isrotated in the forward direction of rotation as indicated by arrow X inFIGS. 25 and 28, so that the first and second rotating pins 313, 318reach the second horizontal cam sections 341, 342, the first and secondarms 304, 305 are set substantially upright on the bottom surface of theouter casing 1, as shown in FIG. 31.

A switch actuator 324a actuating the control switch 324 controlling thedriving motor 330 of the cam rotating driving mechanism 307 is providedbetween the first cam 312 and the second cam 317 formed on the outerperipheral surface of the first rotatable cam 306, as shown in FIGS. 25and 27. When the first rotatable cam 306 is rotated in the directionindicated by arrow X in FIG. 25, and the first arm 304 and the secondarm 305 are erected substantially upright on the bottom surface of theouter casing 1 as shown in FIG. 31 and the optical disc D fed by thesefirst and second arms 304, 305 has been transported as far as a positionin register with the disc loading position on the disc reproducing unit301, the control switch 324 causes the driving motor 330 of the camrotating and driving mechanism 307 to be halted. If, from the state inwhich the first and second arms 304, 305 are set substantially uprighton the bottom surface of the outer casing 1, as shown in FIG. 31, afterhaving transported the optical disc D to a position in register with thedisc loading position on the disc reproducing unit 301, the firstrotatable cam 306 is rotated in the direction opposite to arrow X inFIG. 25 and the first and second arms 304, 305 have been rotated as faras the initial position shown in FIG. 23, the control switch 324 isthrust by the switch actuator 324a for halting the driving motor 330 ofthe cam rotating and driving mechanism 307. Thus the first rotatable cam306, rotated through substantially 360 degrees, rotates the first andsecond arms 304, 305 from the initial position shown in FIG. 23 to atransporting position at which the optical disc D shown in FIG. 31 hasbeen transported to a position registering with the disc loadingposition on the disc reproducing unit 301.

The disc feed guide member 300, rotated about the pivot 321 by rotationof the first rotatable cam 306 for guiding the movement of the opticaldisc D taken out of the disc housing unit 2, is mounted on a lateralsurface of a disc reproducing unit mounting substrate 345 supporting thedisc reproducing unit 301 as later explained. The disc feed guide member300 is arranged facing the outer periphery of the optical disc D fed bythe first and second arms 304, 305, as shown in FIG. 23, and is arrangedover a range beginning from the upper outer periphery of the opticaldisc D housed within the disc housing unit 2 and reaching the discloading position on the disc reproducing unit 303. Thus the disc feedguide member 300 is arranged at a position facing one ends of the firstand second arms 304, 305 along the movement trajectory of the outerperiphery of the optical disc D fed by the first and second arms 304,305. The surface of the disc feed guide member 300 facing the opticaldisc D is formed as a feed guide section 300a which is smoothly andcontinuously curved along the movement trajectory of the optical disc D.On both sides of the guide section 300a is mounted a control wall 300bsupporting both sides of the outer periphery of the optical disc D forcontrolling the wobbling of the optical disc D fed and guided by theguide section 300a.

Specifically, the disc feed guide section 300a of the disc feed guidemember 300 is arranged within a vertical plane including a radial linecentered at the pivot 4 which is the center of rotation of the dischousing unit 2.

The disc feed guide member 300 has its proximal end towards the dischousing unit 2 pivotally mounted on a pivot 346 set on the discreproducing unit mounting substrate 345 and is rotatably mounted aboutthe pivot 346 in a direction towards and away from the first and secondarms 304, 305. The free end of the disc feed member 300 is formed with arotary guide lug 347, as shown in FIG. 30. In the rotary guide lug 347is bored a rotary guide opening 348 having the rotational direction ofthe feed guide member 300 about the pivot 346 as its long axis. Therotary guide opening 348 is engaged by a rotary guide pin 349 set on themounting substrate 345 for restricting the rotational range of the discfeed guide member 300. The rotational control of the disc feed guidemember 300 is taken charge of by a disc reproducing unit rotationcontrol mechanism which controls the rotation of the disc reproducingunit 301 supported by a floating unit on the mounting substrate 345 andwhich controls a floating lock mechanism locking the floating unit.

At the distal end of the rotary guide lug 347, an actuating lever 349for rotating an arm rotating member 350 is pivotally mounted on a pivot352. The arm rotating lever 349 causes rotation of the first and secondarms 304, 305 about the pivot 321 against the bias of the torsion coilspring 322 after the arms 304, 305 have fed the optical disc D to theloading position on the disc reproducing unit 301 and thus rotated tothe position shown in FIG. 31. The rotary guide lug 347 of the disc feedguide member and the arm rotating member 350 are interconnected by alink mechanism which employs the actuating lever 349.

The arm rotating member 350 has a rotating piece 352 having set on itsone end a rotating pin 351 causing rotation of the first and second arms304, 305 and a connecting piece 354 having set thereon a pivot 354pivotally supporting the other end of the actuating lever 349, with therotating piece 352 and the connecting piece 354 being interconnected atright angles to each other in the form of a letter L, as shown in FIGS.26 and 30. The arm rotating member 350 has its proximal end towards theconnecting portion for the rotating piece 352 and the connecting piece354 pivotally mounted by a pivot 355 set on one end of a bracket 316pivotally mounting the first and second arms 304, 305. The arm rotatingmember 350 is connected to the disc feed guide member 300 through theactuating lever 349 by having the other end of the actuating lever 349pivotally mounted on the pivot 353 set on the connecting piece 354. Whenthe disc feed guide member 300 is rotated by the disc reproducing unitrotating control mechanism, the actuating lever 349 is moved in thedirection of arrows G or H in FIG. 31, by the rotation of the disc feedguide member 300. With such movement of the actuating lever 349, the armrotating member 350 is rotated in the direction shown by arrow I or inan opposite direction about a pivot 355 set on one end of the bracket316.

When the actuating lever 349 is moved in a direction shown by arrow G inFIG. 31, with rotation of the disc feed guide member 300, the armrotating member 350 is rotated in a direction shown by arrow I in FIG.31 about the pivot 355 as the center of rotation. When the arm rotatingmember 350 has been rotated in a direction shown by arrow I in FIG. 31,the rotating pin 351 set on one end of the rotating piece 352 is engagedbetween lugs 357, 358 set on the opposite sides of the rotating sections311, 316 of the first and second arms 304, 305, as shown in FIGS. 31 and32. At this time, the first and second arms 305, 306 have rotated theoptical disc D as far as the disc loading position on the discreproducing unit 310. When the arm rotating member 351 is furtherrotated in a direction shown by arrow I in FIG. 31, the rotating pin 350continues to be engaged between the lugs 357, 358 of the first andsecond arms 304, 305, for causing the first and second arms 304, 305 tobe rotated against the bias of the torsion coil spring 322 in thedirections opposite to those shown by arrows P and Q for enlarging thedistance between the end rolls 309 and 314. With the distance betweenthe end rolls 309, 314 being enlarged in this manner, the disc support308 and the end rolls 309, 314 are separated from the optical disc Dtransported as far as the disc loading position on the disc reproducingunit 301.

In addition, in association with the first rotatable cam 306 rotated bythe cam driving mechanism 307 constituting the disc transportingmechanism 302, a housing unit rotation control mechanism 360 isarranged, as shown in FIG. 25. The housing unit rotation controlmechanism 360 controls the rotation of the disc housing unit 2 at leastduring the time when the disc transporting mechanism 302 transports theoptical disc D and when the optical disc D transported by the disctransporting mechanism 302 is reproduced.

The housing unit rotation control mechanism 360 has a stop member 362rotatably supported by a pivot 361 by a mounting piece, not shown,formed by bending a portion of the mounting substrate 345 arrangedwithin the outer casing 1. The stop member 362 has an engagement pin 363mounted depending from one distal end side facing the pivotal mountingside to the pivot 361 and an engagement piece 364 projected towards theengagement recess 10 formed on the outer periphery of the rotary table 5of the disc housing unit 2, as shown in FIGS. 25 and 27. The stop member362 is mounted with the engagement pin 363 engaged in a spirallyextending cam groove 365 formed on the upper end face of the firstrotatable cam 306 and is rotated about the pivot 362 as the center ofrotation by the rotation of the first rotatable cam 306 for engaging ordisengaging the engagement piece 364 into or from the engagement recess10.

During the time the disc housing unit 2 is rotated by the housing unitrotating driving mechanism 41, the stop member 362 is rotated in adirection in which the engagement piece 364 is disengaged from theengagement recess 10 formed on the outer peripheral surface of therotary table 5. That is, by the engagement pin 363 engaged in the camgroove 365 formed on the upper end face of the first rotatable cam 306being controlled by the rotation of the first rotatable cam 306, thestop member 362 is maintained in a state in which the engagement piece364 is detached from the engagement recess 10.

When the first rotatable cam 306 is rotated in a direction shown byarrow X in FIG. 25, with the disc transporting operation by the disctransporting mechanism 302, the engagement pin 363 is guided and movedalong the cam groove 365. By the engagement pin 363 being guided andmoved by the cam groove 365, the stop member 362 is rotatedcounterclockwise as indicated by arrow J in FIG. 25, about the pivot 361as the center of rotation, that is, in a direction in which theengagement piece 364 is engaged in the engagement recess 10 formed inthe outer peripheral surface of the rotary table 5. The engagement piece364 is engaged in that one of the engagement recesses formed in theouter periphery of the rotary table in register with the disc insertingslits 6 which is associated with the inserting slit in which is insertedthe designated optical disc D transported by the disc transportingmechanism 302, as shown in FIG. 25. Consequently, the housing unitrotation control mechanism 360 constitutes a protection mechanism forthe optical disc D being reproduced or transported and the disc housingunit 2 housing the optical disc D. In the present embodiment, theengagement piece 364 provided in the stop member 362 is set so as tohave a smaller width than the opening width W₁ of the engagement recess8 provided in the rotary table 5, so that, even if a small error beproduced in the stop angle of the rotary table 5, the disc insertingslit 6 of the rotary table 5 in which is inserted the optical disc Dtransported to and reproduced by the disc reproducing unit 301 may becorrected so as to be in correct register with the disc transportingmechanism 302.

A disc reproducing unit 301, constituting another embodiment of the discreproducing apparatus according to the present invention, is hereinafterexplained.

Similarly to the reproducing unit of the previous embodiment, the discreproducing unit 301 is mounted on a disc reproducing unit mountingsubstrate 345 mounted in an outer casing 2 and is made up of a discrotational driving mechanism 80 having a disc table 81 on which isloaded an optical disc D transported by a disc transporting mechanism302, and an optical pickup unit 82, as shown in FIGS. 33 and 34. Theoptical pickup unit 82 acts as reproducing means for radiating a lightbeam to a signal recording surface of the optical disc D loaded androtated on the disc rotating and driving mechanism 80 and forreproducing information signals, such as music signals, recorded on theoptical disc D. The optical pickup unit 82 includes an optical pickup383 having an objective lens 382 for converging the light beam from alight source, such as a semiconductor laser, on the signal recordingsurface of the optical disc D. The optical pickup 383 is carried by aslide guide member 384 and a feed screw 386 of a pickup feed unit and isfed radially of the optical disc D loaded on the disc rotating anddriving mechanism 80 by the pickup feed unit 385 for scanning the signalrecording surface of the optical disc across its inner and outer rims.

The disc reproducing unit 301 is also arranged so that the disc rotatingand driving mechanism 80 has its rotary shaft lying at right angles to apivot 4 acting as a center of rotation of the disc housing unit 2, asshown in FIGS. 23 and 24. Thus the optical disc D loaded and rotated onthe disc rotating and driving mechanism 80 has its rotary planeextending parallel to the axis of the pivot 4 of the disc housing unit2. With the disc housing unit 2 arranged in this manner, the opticaldisc D, housed and held within the disc housing unit 2 with its majorsurface lying substantially parallel to the pivot 4, is transported bythe disc transporting mechanism 302 without changing its insertingdirection into the disc housing unit 2, so as to be loaded on the discreproducing unit 301.

Turning to a more detailed structure of the disc reproducing unit 301,the disc reproducing unit 301 is mounted on a pickup chassis 387produced by punching a metal plate and includes the disc rotating anddriving mechanism 80 and the optical pickup unit 82, as shown in FIGS.33 and 34. The pickup chassis 387, mounting the disc rotating anddriving mechanism 80 and the optical pickup unit 82, is mounted througha spacer 389 to a pickup chassis supporting substrate 388 carrying astator coil of a disc driving motor constituting the disc rotating anddriving mechanism 80, a starting and controlling circuit for the drivingmotor, a driving controlling circuit for the optical pickup unit 82 andso forth. The pickup chassis supporting substrate 388 is supported by adisc driving unit supporting substrate 390 arranged for depending fromthe disc reproducing unit supporting substrate 345 arranged verticallywithin the outer casing 1.

The disc driving unit supporting substrate 390 carrying the pickupchassis supporting substrate 388 has its opposing sides formed with afirst upstanding wall 391 and a second upstanding wall 392, as shown inFIG. 35. The upper ends of the first and second upstanding walls 391,392 of the disc driving unit supporting substrate 390 are pivotallymounted at pivot shafts 395, 396 mounted on a first pivot shaft mountingpiece 393a formed upright on a lateral side of a driving motor mountingbracket 393 mounted on a surface of the mounting substrate 345 oppositeto its surface mounting the disc feed guide block 300 and on a secondpivot shaft mounting piece 394 mounted on the firstly stated surface ofthe mounting substrate 345, respectively, as shown in FIG. 34. Thus thedisc driving unit supporting substrate 390 is rotated in the directionsindicated by arrows K and L in FIG. 24, about the pivot shafts 395, 396as the center of rotation, by a disc reproducing unit supportingsubstrate 400 as later explained. Thus the pickup chassis supportingsubstrate 388 supported by the disc driving unit supporting substrate390 is also rotated in unison with the disc driving unit supportingsubstrate 390 in the directions indicated by arrows K and L in FIG. 24.The disc rotating and driving mechanism 80 and the optical pickup unit82 are made to draw close to the optical disc D transported to the disctransporting position on the disc reproducing unit 301 by the disctransporting mechanism 402.

The pickup chassis supporting substrate 388 is carried by the discdriving unit supporting substrate 390 by means of a plurality offloating units 401. In the present embodiment, the pickup chassissupporting substrate 388 is carried by the disc driving unit supportingsubstrate 390 by means of three floating units 401. The function of thefloating unit 401 is to absorb vibrations due to impacts applied to thedisc driving unit supporting substrate 390 from outside the outer casing1 and to prevent the vibrations from being transmitted through thepickup chassis supporting substrate 388 to the disc rotating and drivingmechanism 80 and the optical pickup unit 82 in order to protect the discrotating and driving mechanism 80 and the optical pickup unit 82 againsthe vibrations.

The floating unit 401 includes a supporting rod 402 set on the discdriving unit supporting substrate 390, as shown in FIG. 35. Thesupporting rod 402 has at its distal end a small-diameter portion whichis passed through a cylindrical elastic support 404 for supporting thepickup chassis supporting substrate 388 for axial deviation relative tothe supporting rod 402. The support 404 is formed of an elastic materialhaving elastic properties, such as rubber, and is fitted in athrough-hole 403 formed in the pickup chassis supporting substrate 388.There are fitted coil springs 404, 405, as elastic members, between aretention shoulder 402b formed at the base of the supporting rod 402 andthe pickup chassis supporting substrate 388 and between a flange 402cformed at the upper end of the supporting rod 402 and the pickup chassissupporting substrate 388, as shown in FIG. 35. Thus the pickup chassissupporting substrate 388 is sandwiched between the coil springs 404, 405and supported by the supporting rod 402 under the recoiling force of thecoil springs 404, 405.

By supporting the pickup chassis supporting substrate 388 relative tothe disc driving unit supporting substrate 390 by means of theabove-described floating units 401, any vibrations generated in the discdriving unit supporting substrate 390 due to impacts applied fromoutside the outer casing 1 or vibrations in a direction perpendicular tothe axial direction may be absorbed by these coil springs 404, 405 andprevented from being transmitted to the pickup chassis supportingsubstrate 388.

There is also mounted a tension spring 406 between the vicinity of thepivotal mounting portion of the first and second upstanding walls 391,392 on the disc driving unit supporting substrate 390 to the pivotshafts 395,396 and spring retainers 405 provided on both sides of thepickup chassis supporting substrate 388, for biasing the pickup chassissupporting substrate 388 towards the pivot shafts 395, 396 at the upperporions of the outer casing 1, as shown in FIG. 34. The function ofthese tension springs 406 is to augment the elastic force of the elasticsupport 404 constituting the floating unit 401. That is, the tensionsprings 406 reinforce the elastic supporting force of the elasticsupport 404 which is placed under a load of the pickup chassissupporting substrate 388 arranged for depending within the outer casing1.

Meanwhile, the pickup chassis supporting substrate 388, resilientlysupported by the floating unit 401 by the disc driving unit supportingsubstrate 390, is locked by a floating lock unit 410 when the discreproducing unit transports the optical disc D by the disc transportingmechanism 302 or when the optical disc D is being loaded on the disctable 81 of the disc rotational driving mechanism 80, that is, when thedisc is in operating states other than the reproducing state.

The function of the floating lock unit 401 is to secure the pickupchassis supporting substrate 388 to the disc driving unit supportingsubstrate 390 against the resiliency of the floating unit 401 bythrusting a plurality of lock pins 411 set on the pickup chassissupporting substrate 388 against the surface of the disc driving unitsupporting substrate 390 by first and second lock plates 412, 413slidably mounted on the disc driving unit supporting substrate 390.

The lock pin 411, set on the pickup chassis supporting substrate 388 forconstituting the floating lock unit 410, is protruded above the discdriving unit supporting substrate 390 via a through-hole 414 or acut-out 415 formed in the disc driving unit supporting substrate 390, asshown in FIGS. 34 and 36. The distal end of each lock pin 411 is formedwith an engagement recess 411a adapted to be engaged by each of firstand second lock plates 412, 413.

The first and second lock plates 412, 413 are arranged between aplurality of lock pins 411 set on the pickup chassis supportingsubstrate 388 and arranged in superposition with each other, as shown inFIGS. 34 and 36. The lock plates 412, 413 are supported for slidingmovement, with common slide guide pins 416 being passed through slideguide openings 417, in a direction towards and away from the lock pins411. A tension spring 417 is mounted between the first and second lockplates 412, 413 by means of spring retainers 412a, 413b. The first lockplate 412 has its side having an engagement section 412b and an abutmentsection 412c for the lock pin 411 biased under the force of the tensionspring 417 in a direction towards the lock pin 411 as indicated by arrowM in FIGS. 34 and 36. By the first and second lock plates 412, 413biased by the tension spring 417 and by the engagement sections 412b,413b and the abutment sections 412c being abutted and engaged with thelock pin 411, the pickup chassis supporting substrate 388 is secured tothe disc driving unit supporting substrate 390 against the resiliency ofthe floating unit 401.

On the disc driving unit supporting substrate 390 is mounted a floatingunlock lever for sliding the first and second lock plates 412, 413against the bias of the tension spring 417 for releasing the thrustingsupport of the lock pin 411 by the first and second lock plates 412,413. The floating unlock lever 418. is rotatably supported by a pivot419 set on the disc driving unit supporting substrate 390 and has aslide guide pin 419 set on the disc driving unit supporting substrate390 introduced into slide guide holes 421, 422 bored in one ends of thefirst and second lock plates 412, 413, as shown in FIGS. 34 and 36. Onone end of the floating lock lever 418 is mounted upright a rotating arm423. The floating unlock lever 418 has its rotating arm 423 thrust bythe disc reproducing unit supporting substrate 400 and thereby isrotated in a direction indicated by arrow T in FIG. 35 about the pivot419 a the center of rotation for sliding the first and second lockplates 412, 413 against the bias of the tension spring 417 in thedirections opposite to those indicated by arrows M and N in FIGS. 34 and36. By the first and second lock plates 412, 413 being slid in thedirections opposite to those indicated by arrows M and N in FIGS. 34 and36, the engagement sections 412b, 413b and the abutment section 412c aredisengaged from the lock pin 411 for establishing a floating state inwhich the pickup chassis supporting substrate 388 is resilientlysupported by the disc driving unit supporting substrate 390 by means ofthe floating unit 401.

The disc reproducing unit supporting substrate 345 has a chuck mechanism425 for holding the optical disc D transported by the disc transportingmechanism 302 to the disc loading position on the disc reproducing unit301 for rotation in unison with the disc table 81 in cooperation withthe disc table 81, as shown in FIGS. 33 and 35. The chuck mechanism 425has a chuck member supporting arm 427 supporting a chuck member 426carrying a magnet, not shown.

The chuck member 426 is loosely fitted in a support hole 428 bored inthe distal end of a chuck member supporting arm 427 for rotationrelative to the chuck member supporting arm 427.

The chuck member supporting arm 427 constituting the chuck mechanism 425is rotatably mounted on a chuck mechanism supporting substrate 429mounted on an opposite side of the disc reproducing unit supportingsubstrate 345 mounting the disc driving unit supporting substrate 390supporting the pickup chassis supporting substrate 388, as shown in FIG.33. The chuck mechanism supporting substrate 429 is mounted parallel tothe plane of the disc driving unit supporting substrate 390 by beingmade fast with a plurality of substrate supporting shafts 430 set on thedisc driving unit supporting substrate 390.

The chuck member supporting arm 427 has a supporting shaft 431 mountedon both sides of the proximal side opposite to its distal side carryingthe chuck member 426 pivotally mounted on the chuck mechanism supportingsubstrate 429, with the chuck member 426 facing the disc table 81 of thedisc rotating mechanism 80, so that the chuck member supporting arm 427may be rotated about the supporting shaft 431 as the center of rotation.By being rotated about the supporting shaft 431 as the center ofrotation, the chuck member supporting arm 427 causes the chuck member426 to be contacted with or separated from the disc table 81. The chuckmember supporting arm 427 is rotationally biased by a tension spring 432mounted between the proximal side of the chuck member supporting arm 427and the chuck mechanism supporting substrate 429 in a direction in whichthe end chuck member 426 is brought into or out of contact with the disctable 81.

The chuck member supporting arm 427 has the function of being rotated inunison with rotation of the disc driving unit supporting substrate 390for moving the chuck member 426 into or out of contact with the disctable 81. The proximal side of the chuck member supporting arm 427 isformed with a tab 433 which in turn is formed with an engagement pin 434for engaging with the disc driving unit supporting substrate 390. Theengagement pin 434 is engaged with a rotating pin 436 set on a rotatingpiece 435 formed upright on one side of the disc driving unit supportingsubstrate 390. The chuck member supporting arm 427, causing theengagement pin 434 to bear against the rotating pin 436 of the discdriving unit supporting substrate 390 under the force of the tensionspring 432, is rotated in a direction of approaching the end chuckmember 426 to the disc table 81 when the disc driving unit supportingsubstrate 390 is rotated towards the optical disc D being transported tothe disc loading position on the disc reproducing unit 301.

The disc reproducing unit supporting substrate 400, causing rotation ofthe disc driving unit supporting substrate 390 rotatably supported bythe disc reproducing unit supporting substrate 345, includes a secondrotatable cam 440, as a rotary cam for rotating the reproducing unit, adriving motor 441 for rotationally driving the second rotatable cam 440in the forward and reverse directions, and a decelerating gearing 442having a plurality of gears for transmitting the rotary driving force ofthe driving motor 441 to the second rotatable cam 440, as shown in FIGS.34 and 37, and constitutes a third driving mechanism of the present discreproducing apparatus.

The driving motor 441, constituting the disc reproducing unit supportingsubstrate 400, is mounted on a driving motor mounting bracket 393 to thedisc reproducing unit supporting substrate 345. The second rotatable can440 and the decelerating gearing 442 are also rotatably mounted on thedisc reproducing unit supporting substrate 345. The driving motor 441and the decelerating gearing 442 are interconnected by a connecting belt445 placed around a pulley 443 mounted on an output shaft 441a of thedriving motor 441 and a pulley gear 444 positioned at an initial stageof the decelerating gearing 442, as shown in FIG. 35. The deceleratinggearing 442 and the second rotatable cam 440 are interconnected byengaging a gear 446 at the last stage of the decelerating gearing 442with a reactive gear 440a provided at the lower end of the secondrotatable cam 440. With such interlinking structure, the rotationaldriving force of the driving motor 441 is transmitted to the secondrotatable cam 440 for rotating the cam 440.

The peripheral surface of the second rotatable cam 440, rotated by thedriving motor 441, is formed with a cam groove 447 for controlling therotation of the disc driving unit supporting substrate 390. The camgroove 447 is engaged by an engagement pin 449 formed upright on oneside of the disc driving unit supporting substrate 390, as shown inFIGS. 35 and 37. By engaging the engagement pin 449 in the cam groove447 formed on the second rotatable cam 440, the disc driving unitsupporting substrate 390 is rotated with the rotation of the secondrotatable cam 440 about the pivot shafts 395, 396 as the center ofrotation in the directions indicated by arrows K and L in FIG. 24.

On one end face of the second rotatable cam 440 is formed a floatingunlock lever rotating piece 450 for abutting against the rotating arm423 provided on the floating unlock lever 418 for rotating the floatingunlock lever 418 with rotation of the second rotatable cam 440. Thus thefloating unlock lever 418 is controllingly rotated by the rotation ofthe second rotatable cam 440 for fastening and unfastening the pickupchassis supporting substrate 388 carried by the disc driving unitsupporting substrate 390 to and from the disc driving unit supportingsubstrate 390. The pickup chassis supporting substrate 388 is supportedby the disc driving unit supporting substrate 390 via the floating unit401.

On one end face of the second rotatable cam 440 a switch actuating piece456 which discontinues the driving of the driving motor 441 fordiscontinuing rotation of the second rotatable cam 440 when the discdriving unit supporting substrate 390 is rotated to a positionapproaching the optical disc D transported to the disc loading positionwithin the disc reproducing unit 301 or to a position spaced apart fromthe optical disc D transported to the disc loading position, as shown inFIG. 37.

On the other end face of the second rotatable cam 440 is mounted acontrol pin 452 with an offset with respect to the center of rotation ofthe rotatable cam 440. The control pin 452 controlledly rotates the discfeed guide member 300 about the pivot 346 as the center of rotation. Thecontrol pin 452 is mounted on the disc feed guide member 300 by means ofan elongated opening bored in the disc reproducing unit mountingsubstrate 345. The control pin 452 is engaged in an engagement opening454 bored in a projecting piece 453 mounted on one side at a mid portionof the disc feed guide member 300 mounted on one lateral side of discreproducing unit mounting substrate 345, as shown in FIG. 33. Thus thedisc feed guide member 300 is rotated by rotation of the secondrotatable cam 440 about the pivot 346 as the center of rotation forbringing the disc feed guide surface 300a into and out of contact withthe outer periphery of the optical disc D being fed. By such rotation ofthe disc feed guide member 300, the arm rotation control member 350,rotating the first and second arms 304, 305 of the disc transportingmechanism 302 against the bias of the torsion coil spring 322, isrotated by means of the rotating lever 349.

Since the disc housing unit 2 in the present embodiment is of the sameconstruction as that of the previous embodiment, the housing unit rotaryposition detection mechanism 44 employing the disc housing unit 2 is ofthe same construction as that described previously and hence is notexplained herein.

The operation of selecting one of a large number of optical discs Dhoused within the disc housing unit 2 in the present embodiment andloading the selected optical disc D on the disc reproducing unit 301will now be explained.

The disc number of the desired optical disc housed within the dischousing unit 2 is designated and the disc housing unit rotating anddriving mechanism 41 is driven for rotating the rotary table 5 of thedisc housing unit 2. The housing unit rotational position detectionmechanism 44 detects that the optical disc D having the designated discnumber has been transported to the takeout enabling position O to haltthe disc housing unit rotating and driving mechanism 41.

When the optical disc D of the desired disc number is moved to thetakeout enabling position by the disc transporting mechanism 42, thestop member 362 of the housing unit rotation control mechanism 360 isdisengaged from the engagement recess 10 of the rotary table 5 which maynow be rotated about the pivot 4 as the center of rotation.

It is noted that, when the disc housing unit 2 for moving the opticaldisc D having the desired disc number to the takeout enabling positionby the disc transporting mechanism 42 is ready to be rotated by the dischousing unit rotating and driving mechanism 41, the first and secondarms 304, 305 making up the disc feed mechanism 303 of the disctransporting mechanism 302 are set in a state shown in FIG. 23. That is,the first rotatable cam 306 is at an initial rotational position, withthe first rotating pin 313 of the first arm 304 and the second rotatingpin 318 of the second arm 305 being in pressure contact with the firsthorizontal cam 335 of the first cam 312 and with the first horizontalcam 337 of the second cam 317, respectively. In this state, the firstarm 304 is set in a state of having been rotated to a position in whichthe disc support 308 and the end roll 309 are spaced apart downward fromthe outer periphery of the optical disc D housed within the disc housingunit 2, as shown in FIG. 23. On the other hand, the second arm 305 isset in a state of having been rotated to a position in which the endroll 314 is spaced apart upward from the outer periphery of the opticaldisc D housed within the disc housing unit 2, as shown in FIG. 23.

When the first and second arms 304, 305, making up the disc feedmechanism 303, are rotated from the initial position shown in FIG. 23 sothat the first rotatable cam 306 is rotated by the cam rotating anddriving mechanism 307 in a direction shown by arrow X in FIG. 25, thesecond arm 305 is rotated clockwise as indicated by arrow Q in FIG. 29.That is, the second rotating pin 318 provided on the second arm 305 isbrought into pressure contact with the first inclined cam section 338provided on the second cam 317 and is rotated in the direction indicatedby arrow Q in FIG. 29 under the bias of the torsion coil spring 322. Theroll 314 provided on one end of the second arm 305 is made to bearagainst the outer periphery of the optical disc D which is housed withinthe disc housing unit 2 and which is to be transported, thus restrictingrotation of the second arm 305.

If there is no optical disc D in the inserting groove 6 in the dischousing unit 2 corresponding to the designated disc number, the end roll314 is not contacted with the optical disc D, so that the second arm 305is further rotated under the bias of the torsion coil spring 322 in thedirection indicated by arrow Q in FIG. 29. The detection switch 319provided on the rotational trajectory of the second arm 302 fordetecting the possible presence of the optical disc D is thrust by theswitch actuating pin 320 set on the rotating piece 316 of the second arm305 for electrically detecting the absence of the desired optical disc Din the inserting groove 6 of the disc housing unit 2 in register withthe disc transporting mechanism 302. With the detection switch 319 thusthrust, the driving of the driving motor 330 of the cam rotating anddriving mechanism 307 rotating the first rotatable cam 306 ceases sothat the takeout operation of the optical disc D from the housing unit 2ceases. Following such cessation, the driving motor 330 is driven inreverse for rotating the first rotatable cam 306 in reverse forrestoring the first and second arms 304, 305 to their initial positionsshown in FIG. 23.

During the time the possible presence of the optical disc D in the dischousing unit 2 is continued by the second arm 305, the first rotatablecam 306 is rotated with the first rotating pin 313 resting on the firsthorizontal cam section 335 of the first cam 304. Thus the first arm 304is maintained in a state in which the disc support 308 and the end roll309 are spaced apart downward from the outer periphery of the opticaldisc D housed within the disc housing unit 2.

If, as a result of detection of possible presence of the optical disc Din the disc housing unit 2, the designated optical disc D to betransported is found to be present in the disc housing unit 2, the firstrotatable cam 306 continues to be rotated in the direction indicated byarrow X in FIG. 25. The first rotating pin 313 of the first arm 304 ismade to bear against the inclined cam section 336 consecutive to thefirst horizontal cam section 335 of the first cam 312. On the otherhand, the second rotating pin 318 of the second arm 305 is made to bearagainst the inclined cam section 339 consecutive to the first horizontalcam section 338 of the second cam 317.

When the first rotating pin 313 is made to bear against the inclined camsection 336 of the first cam 312, the first arm 304 is rotated in thedirection indicated by arrow P in FIG. 23, under the bias of the torsioncoil spring 322, until the disc support 308 and the end roll 309 aremade to bear against the outer periphery of the optical disc D housedwithin the disc housing unit 2. The optical disc D which is housedwithin the disc housing unit 2 and which is to be transported issupported by being clamped between the first and second arms 304, 305,as shown in FIG. 30.

When the first rotatable cam 306 is further rotated in the directionindicated by arrow X in FIG. 25, from the state in which the opticaldisc is clamped between the first and second arms 304, 305, the firstand second rotating pins 313, 318 are moved on the inclined cam section336 of the first cam 312 and on the second inclined cam section 339 ofthe second cam 317, respectively. The first and second arms 304, 305 arerotated in the directions opposite to those shown by arrows P and Q inFIG. 30, about the pivot 321 as the center of rotation. By such rotationof the first and second arms 304, 305, the optical disc D which has beendesignated and which is to be transported is taken out of the dischousing unit 2 and fed towards the disc guide member 300. The opticaldisc D, supported at three points on its outer periphery by the firstand second arms 304, 305 and the disc feed guide member 300, is guidedby the disc feed guide section 300a so as to be transported to the discloading position within the disc reproducing unit 301, as shown in FIG.31.

By suitably selecting the profile of the first inclined cam section 336of the first cam 312 and the second inclined cam section 339 of thesecond cam 317, the movement trajectory of one sides of the first andsecond arms 304, 305 may be of a flat and smoothly continuous contour.That is, the first and second arms 304, 305 are rotated for enlargingthe gap therebetween at one ends thereof, against the bias of thetorsion coil spring 322, in order to follow up with the rotation of thefirst and second arms 304, 305 in the direction opposite to thoseindicated by arrows P and Q in FIG. 30, that is towards the discreproducing unit 301. By the gap between the first and second arms 304,305 being increased in this manner, the movement trajectory at the oneends may be of a flat and smoothly continuous shape. The disc feed guidemember 300, adapted for guiding the movement of the optical disc D alongwith the first and second arms 304, 305, may also be flat in contour, sothat the disc reproducing apparatus (disc player) itself may also bereduced in height.

When the first and second arms 304, 305 have been rotated until theoptical disc D has been fed to a position registering with the discloading position in the disc reproducing unit 301, the first and secondrotating pins 313, 318 arrive at the second horizontal cam sections 341,342 of the first and second cams 312, 317 provided on the firstrotatable cam 306, respectively. The first and second arms 304, 305 aresubstantially upright on the bottom surface of the outer casing 1, asshown in FIG. 31.

When the first rotatable cam 306 has rotated the first and second arms304, 305 as far as the position indicated in FIG. 31, the control switch324 is thrust by the switch actuator 324a for halting the driving motor330 of the cam rotating and driving mechanism 307 for terminating thetransporting operation of the disc reproducing unit 301 as far as thedisc loading position.

When the transporting operation of the optical disc D to the discreproducing unit 301, and the control switch 324 is thrust, the drivingmotor 441 of the disc reproducing unit rotating mechanism 400 starts tobe driven in the forward direction, for rotating the second rotatablecam 440 in the forward direction indicated by arrow Y in FIGS. 34 and36.

With the present embodiment of the disc reproducing apparatus, thepickup chassis supporting substrate 388 carrying the disc rotating anddriving mechanism 80 and the optical pickup unit 82 and the disc drivingunit supporting plate 390 carrying the pickup chassis supportingsubstrate 388 are spaced apart from the disc loading position for thetransported optical disc D. That is, the disc driving unit supportingplate 390 is maintained in a state of having been rotated in thedirection indicated by arrow L in FIG. 24. The chuck member support arm427 of the chuck mechanism 425 is maintained in a state in which thechuck member 426 carried at its distal end has been rotated in adirection away from the disc table 81 of the disc rotating and drivingmechanism 80 as shown in FIG. 27. That is, the disc driving unitsupporting plate 390 and the chuck member support arm 427 are in a stateof being inclined and depending from the disc reproducing unit mountingsubstrate 345 and a space large enough to hold the optical disc Dtransported by the disc transporting mechanism 302 is provided betweenthe disc table 81 of the disc rotating mechanism 80 and the chuck member426.

When the driving motor 441 starts to be rotated in the forwarddirection, and the second rotatable cam 440 is rotated in the forwarddirection indicated by arrow Y in FIGS. 34 and 35, the disc driving unitsupporting plate 390 having the engagement pin 449 engaged in the camgroove 447 formed on the periphery of the second rotatable cam 440 isrotated in the direction indicated by arrow K in FIG. 24. With suchrotation of the disc driving unit supporting plate 390 in the directionshown by arrow K in FIG. 24, the pickup chassis supporting substrate 388supported by the disc driving unit supporting plate 390 by means of thefloating unit 410 is also rotated in the same direction in unison withthe disc driving unit supporting plate 390. The pickup chassissupporting substrate 388 is secured at this time by the floating unit410 and the disc driving unit supporting plate 390.

When the pickup chassis supporting substrate 388 is rotated along withthe disc driving unit supporting plate 390 in the direction indicated byarrow K in FIG. 24, the disc rotating mechanism 80, mounted on thepickup chassis supporting substrate 388 through the pickup chassis 387,is rotated towards the disc loading position in which is disposed theoptical disc D transported by the disc transporting mechanism 302. Whenthe disc rotating mechanism 80 is rotated towards the disc loadingposition, the centering member 81a, projected towards the disc settingsurface of the disc table 81, is engaged in a center opening of theoptical disc D which is supported by the first and second arms 304, 305and the disc feed guide member 300 and transported to the disc loadingposition. The optical disc D is centered relative to the disc table 81by the centering action of the centering member 81a so as to be loadedon the disc table 81. Since the pickup chassis supporting substrate 388is secured by the floating unit 410 and the disc driving unit supportingplate 390 the relative position matching between the center opening ofthe optical disc D and the centering member 81a may be achievedcorrectly for reliably setting the optical disc D on the disc table 81.

When the disc driving unit supporting plate 390 is rotated in thedirection indicated by arrow K in FIG. 24, the chuck member support arm427 is rotated under the force of the tension spring 432 in a directionof approaching the chuck member 426 towards the disc table 81. That is,the chuck member support arm 427 is operatively connected to the discdriving unit supporting plate 390 by having the engagement pin 434 atthe proximal side thereof engaged by the rotating pin 436 set on oneside of the disc driving unit supporting plate 390, so that the supportarm 427 is rotated concurrently synchronism with rotation of the discdriving unit supporting plate 390. Thus the disc table 8 and the chuckmember 426 approach the optical disc D substantially simultaneously andcooperate with each other for chucking the optical disc D. By theoptical disc D chucked in this manner, the optical disc D is enabled tobe rotated in unison with the disc table 81, as shown in FIG. 38.

As described above, the second rotatable cam 440 is rotated in theforward direction, as indicated by arrow Y in FIG. 35 for rotating thedisc driving unit supporting plate 390 and the chuck member support arm427 for rotating the floating unlock lever 418 by the floating unlocklever rotating piece 450 provided on one end face of the secondrotatable cam 440 in operative association with the chuck operation forthe optical disc D. As the second rotatable cam 440 is rotated in theforward direction indicated by arrow Y in FIG. 35, the floating unlocklever 418 is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow Z in FIG. 35 bythe floating unlock lever rotating piece 450. By such rotation of thefloating unlock lever 418, the first and second lock plates 412, 413 areslid in the directions opposite to those shown by arrows M and N in FIG.35. The abutting engagement of the engagement sections 412a, 413a andthe abutment section 412b provided on the first and second lock plates412, 413 with respect to the lock pin 411 is released so that the pickupchassis supporting substrate 388 is in a floating state of beingelastically supported by means of the floating unit 401 by the discdriving unit supporting plate 390.

The rotation of the floating unlock lever 418 by the second rotatablecam 440 is started with a slight delay with respect to the start ofrotation of the disc driving unit supporting plate 390 and comes to aclose substantially simultaneously with the chucking of the optical discD on the disc table 81.

When the second rotatable cam 440 is rotated in the forward direction asindicated by arrow Y in FIG. 36, the disc feed guide member 300 isrotated in the direction indicated by arrow Z in FIG. 34, about thepivot 346 as the center of rotation, by the control pin 452 provided onthe other end face of the second rotatable cam 440. The disc feed guidemember 300 is spaced apart from the optical disc D disposed in the discloading position.

When the disc feed guide member 300 is rotated in the directionindicated by arrow Z in FIG. 32, about the pivot 346 as the center ofrotation, the rotating lever 349 is moved in the direction indicated byarrow G in FIG. 31, with the rotating member 350 being rotated in thedirection indicated by arrow I in FIG. 31. The rotating pin 351 providedon the arm rotating member 350 is engaged in a space between lugs 357,358 on the rotating pins 311, 316 of the first and second arms 304, 305for rotating the first and second arms 304, 305 against the bias of thetorsion coil spring 322 for enlarging the space between the end rolls309 and 314,as shown in FIG. 32.

When the disc feed guide member 300 is spaced apart from the opticaldisc D in the disc loading position, and the gap between the end rolls309, 314 on the first and second arms 304, 305 is enlarged, the discfeed guide member 300 and the first and second arms 304, 305 cease tosupport the optical disc D. The optical disc D is supported solely bythe chuck member 426 on the disc table 81, so that the optical disc maybe rotated freely in unison with the disc table 81 without being impededby any other components parts. Thus the loading of the optical disc D onthe disc reproducing unit 301 comes to a close. Substantiallysimultaneously with completion of the loading operation of the opticaldisc D on the disc reproducing unit 301, the driving motor controlswitch 450 is actuated by the switch actuating piece provided on thesecond rotatable cam 440 so that the driving of the driving motor 441 ofthe disc reproducing unit rotating mechanism 400 comes to a close.

The operation of displacing the disc feed guide member 300 away from theoptical disc D and the operation of enlarging the gap between the firstand second arms 304, 305 come to a close substantially simultaneouslywith the completion of chucking of the optical disc D with respect tothe disc table 81.

When the optical disc D is taken out of the disc housing unit 2 andloaded on the disc reproducing unit 301, rotation of the disc rotatingmechanism 80 is started for rotating the optical disc D. Simultaneously,the optical pickup unit 82 starts to be driven for reproducing theoptical disc D.

When reproduction of the optical disc D comes to a close, the drivingmotor 441 of the disc reproducing unit rotating mechanism 400 is run inreverse rotation and the second rotatable cam 440 is rotated in reverseso that the first and second arms 304, 305 and the disc feed guidemember 300 are run in rotation by the reverse of the loading operationof the optical disc D. The disc driving unit supporting plate 390 andthe chuck member support arm 427 are rotated in a direction of beingmoved away from the optical disc D. The driving motor 330 of the camrotating and driving mechanism 307 is driven in reverse and the firstrotatable cam 306 is driven in reverse in a direction opposite to thatshown by arrow X in FIG. 25 for rotating the first and second arms 304,305 towards the disc housing unit 2. The optical disc D carried by thesefirst and second arms 304, 305 is inserted in the disc inserting slit 6having the corresponding disc address of the disc housing unit 2 forcompleting the returning operation of the optical disc D.

The disc reproducing apparatus of the above-described embodiment of thedisc reproducing apparatus employs the rotatable cams 306, 440 for thedisc reproducing unit rotating mechanism 400 and the disc transportingmechanism 302, respectively, so that the disc reproducing unit rotatingmechanism 400 and the disc transporting mechanism 302 may be reduced insize to allow further reduction in size of the disc reproducingapparatus.

The electrical circuitry of the disc reproducing apparatus according tothe present invention will be explained by referring to FIG. 39. Theelectrical circuitry may be applied to both the above-describedembodiments.

The electrical circuitry in the disc reproducing apparatus includes adetection circuit 151 made up of various sensors and switches, a drivingcontrol circuitry 152 for supplying the driving current to the drivingmotor as the driving source for various mechanisms provided in the discreproducing apparatus and a controller 141 for outputting drivingsignals and control signals to the driving control circuitry 152 basedupon various detection signals from the detection circuitry 151 andcontrol signals from a system controller 154 which will be explainedsubsequently. In addition, the electrical circuitry includes theabove-mentioned system controller 154 supplied with input signals from avariety of operating keys arranged on the operating panel 13 andregistering the input signals as data in a memory 153. The electricalcircuitry also includes a reproducing circuitry 155 for convertinginformation signals reproduced from the optical pickup unit 82 of thedisc reproducing unit 3 or 301 into output speech signals and taking outtracking error and focusing error signals from the information signalsfor supplying them to a servo circuitry, not shown.

To the system controller 154 are connected a number of LEDscorresponding to the number of the groups and a display unit 28 (FIG. 2)by means of a character display circuit, not shown. The memory 153 iscomprised of an SRAM, for example, and a number of files associated withthe disc numbers are logically allocated to the array variable regionsof the SRAM. To the memory 153 is connected a back-up circuit 156whereby data in the memory 153 is prevented from being erased even ifthe power source switch 15 provided on the operating panel 13 is turnedoff. The disc numbers are the numbers from "1" to "100" corresponding tothe predetermined disc inserting slits 6 in the rotary table 5.

Each file is made up of a flag area a in which bit allocation is made inassociation with the group numbers, a memo storage area b in whichmemoranda concerning the associated disc numbers are stored as code datain katakana letters or alphanumerics, a disc number register area c inwhich the disc numbers have been registered in accordance with the filesequence and a disc present bit (1)/disc absent bit (0), as shown inFIG. 40. The bits of the flag area a indicate whether the correspondinggroup has been registered. If "1" is set in each of the first, third andfifth bits, it indicates that the disc number has been registered in thegroups 1, 3 and 5.

The operating keys connected to the system controller 154 are the keysand operating buttons arranged on the operating panel 13 shown in FIG.2. However, for simplicity of explanation, only ten disc groupdesignating keys 17 (17a, 17b, . . . , 17j), a rotary operating key 22and a pushbutton switch 24 are shown in FIG. 39. The processingoperations of the disc reproducing apparatus according to the presentinvention, above all, the group registering operation for grouping the100 optical discs D set on the rotary table 5 according to disc groups,such as musicians, genres and users for control purposes, memo inputtingoperations for registering memoranda such as titles according to discnumbers and the operations of selecting and reproducing one of the 100optical discs D, will now be explained by referring to flow charts ofFIGS. 41 to 44.

Referring to FIG. 41, the group registering operation is started onactuation of a group entry key 24 (step S1). The program for groupregistration is transferred to the RAM region of the system controller154 and the reproducing apparatus is set to the group registration mode(step S2).

At the next step S3, it is checked whether any one of the ten group keyshas been actuated. If one of the disc group designating key 17 ispressed, processing proceeds to a step S4 for turning the LED arrangedon the actuated disc group designating key 17 on and off, whiledisplaying the group number corresponding to the actuated disc groupdesignating key. Processing then transfers to a disc number settingroutine (step S5).

With the disc number setting, it is checked whether the rotary operatingkey 22 has been rotated towards the right or clockwise at the step S101,as shown in FIG. 42. If the rotary operating key 22 is rotatedclockwise, processing transfers to a step S102 where the disc numbercurrently displayed on the first disc number display area 31a isincremented by one. If the displayed disc number is 100", the display"1" is made.

If the rotary operating key 22 is rotated leftwards, processingtransfers to a step S103 where the disc number currently displayed onthe first disc number display area 31a is decremented by one. If thedisplayed disc number is "0" or "1", the display "100" is made.

At each display of the disc number, it is checked whether the pushbuttonswitch 24 has been pushed. If the pushbutton switch 24 has not beenpushed, processing reverts to the step S101 where it is checked whetherthe rotary operating switch 22 has been rotated rightwards and theroutine of the steps S101 to S104 is repeated until the pushbuttonswitch 27 has been pushed. When the pushbutton switch 24 is actuated,the disc number currently displayed in, for example, the working areafor disc numbers is stored at the time of actuation of the pushbuttonswitch 24. The processing then comes to a close.

Reverting to the processing routine of FIG. 41, one of a large number offiles associated with the disc numbers stored in the working area forthe disc numbers is read out at the next step S6 into the RAM area, andthe bits corresponding to the group number of the actuated disc groupdesignating key in the flag area a of the read-out file are set.

At the next step S7, it is checked whether the file key 23 has beenactuated. If the file key 23 has been actuated, processing traverses toa step S8 where the file on the RAM region is registered in the originalfile on the memory based upon the disc number stored in the working areafor the disc numbers (overwriting).

At the next step S9, the LED arranged on the upper portion of theactuated disc group designating key 17 is turned on to a green tint.This completes the group registering operation.

On the other hand, if it is found at the step S3 that the disc groupdesignating key 17 has not been pushed, processing traverses to a stepS10. This step S10 is a step of awaiting the entry operation by the discgroup designating key 17 for a certain time interval, herein for 16seconds. If there is no entry at the disc group designating key 17 afterlapse of 16 seconds, the state prior to the step S1, that is, the usualkey entry awaiting state, referred to herein as an ordinary state. Theprocessing then comes to a close (step S11).

If it is found at the step S7 that the file key 23 has not been pushed,processing traverses to a step S12. The step S12 is a step of awaitingthe entry operation at the file key 23 for a certain time, herein for 16seconds. If there is no entry at the file key 23 even after lapse of 16seconds, reversion is made to the ordinary state at step S13 before theprocessing comes to a close.

Referring to FIG. 43, the memo entering operation is started byactuating the memo entry key 20 at step S201. The program for memo entryis transferred to the RAM region of the system controller 154 and thereproducing apparatus is set to the memo entry mode at step S202. Atthis time, a cursor for entry is displayed at a leading digit of thememo display in the memo display area 30 of the display unit 28.

Processing then enters into a disc number setting routine at step S203.The disc number setting routine has been explained previously and hencethe description is not repeated for clarity.

At the next step S204, it is checked whether the rotary actuating key 22has been pushed. If the rotary actuating key 22 is pushed, processingtraverses to the next step S205 where the letters or numerals displayedat the cursor position are updated in an amount corresponding to thenumber of clicks of the rotary actuating key 22. If the letter ornumeral displayed at the cursor position is a letter "M", for example,and the rotary actuating key 22 is rotated clockwise by click +1, thedisplay is updated in the positive direction of the alphabetic order, sothat the display is changed to the letter "N". Conversely, if the rotaryactuating key is rotated counterclockwise by click +1, the display ischanged to the letter "L".

This processing is continued until the letter or numeral satisfactoryfor registration is displayed at the digit where the cursor ispositioned (step S206). If it is desired to shift the cursor to the nextdigit, the pushbutton switch 24 is actuated (steps S207, S208). Afterthe cursor is shifted to the next digit, the rotary actuating key 22 isactuated for updating until the satisfactory letter or numeral isdisplayed in the digit location. The memo data thus prepared istransiently stored in the working area or memo on the RAM region.

If it has been found at the step S204 that the rotary actuating key 22has not been pushed, processing transfers to a step S209. This step S209is a step of awaiting the entry at the rotary actuating switch 22 for acertain time, herein for 16 seconds. If there is no entry at the rotaryactuating key 22 even after lapse of 16 seconds, reversion is made tothe ordinary state at a step S213 before the processing comes to aclose.

If, at the step S207, there is no necessity of proceeding to the nextdigit, processing transfers to a step S211, where it is checked whetherthe file key 23 has been pushed. This file key 23 is used for checkingwhether the memo entering processing has come to a close. If the filekey 23 is actuated, processing transfers to the next step S212 wherememo data stored in the working area is registered in the memo storagearea b of one of the large number of files registered in the memory 153which corresponds to the disc number stored in the working area for thedisc numbers. Reversion is made subsequently to the ordinary state atthe step S213 before processing comes to a close.

Referring to FIG. 44, the playback operation is started at a step S301by actuation of the disc group designating key 17 for transferring theprogram for playback operations to the RAM region of the systemcontroller 153 for setting the disc reproducing apparatus to a playbackmode at a step S302. At this time, the group number corresponding to theactuated disc group designating key 17 is displayed in the group numberdisplay region 29.

At the next step S303, one of the files registered in the memory 153 inwhich the bit corresponding to the group number of the flag area a is"1" is retrieved and the corresponding files are read out in theirentirety in the order of the disc numbers into the working area forfiles of the RAM region. If, in the course of the retrieval operation,there is any file in which the above-mentioned group number has beenregistered, processing transfers to the next step S304, where the LEDarranged at an upper portion of the actuated disc group designating key17 is turned on in red tint. From this state, the state of awaiting theentry at the rotary actuating key 22 is established, that is, it ischecked at a step S305 whether the rotary actuating key 22 has beenpushed.

If the rotary actuating key 22 has been pushed, processing transfers tothe next step S306, where the file of the group of files read out intothe RAM region is sequentially updated responsive to the rotation of therotary actuating switch 22 and the disc number of the updated fileregistered in the disc number registration area c and the memo stored inthe memo storage area b are displayed in the first disc number displayarea 31a and the memo display area 30 of the display unit 28. Inaddition, in the present embodiment, the disc number registered in thedisc number registration area c of the file to be updated next isdisplayed in the second disc number display area 31b of the display unit28. Additionally. if the disc present (1)/disc absent (0) bit of theupdated file is "0", a message "no disc" indicating that there is nooptical disc D set is displayed in the memo storage area 30 of thedisplay unit 28.

Each time the disc number and the memo are displayed, it is checked atthe next step S307 whether the pushbutton switch 24 has been pushed. Ifthe pushbutton switch 24 is not actuated, processing reverts to the stepS305 in order to check whether the rotary actuating key 22 has beenpushed. The routine of the steps S305 to the step S307 is repeated untilactuation of the pushbutton switch 24 occurs.

If the pushbutton switch 24 is pushed, processing transfers to a stepS308 where information signals are reproduced from the optical disc Dhaving the displayed disc number. That is, at a time point when thepushbutton switch 24 has been pushed, the system controller 154transmits to the controller 141 the data indicating the device number ofthe driving device and a signal requesting the driving of the drivingdevice. The object of driving herein is the driving motor 45 of thehousing unit rotational driving mechanism 41.

The controller 141 analyzes data supplied from the system controller 154and routes a driving signal and a deceleration request signal to thedriving control circuit of the driving control circuitry 152 whichcorresponds to the driving motor 45 of the housing unit rotating anddriving mechanism 41 which is the driving device. As a result, a drivingcurrent is supplied from the driving control circuit for the drivingdevice to the driving motor 45 of the housing unit rotating and drivingmechanism 41 for running the rotary table 5 into rotation.

Simultaneously with the rotation of the rotary table 5, the rotationalposition of the rotary table 5 is detected by the disc housing unitrotational position detection mechanism 44 shown in FIG. 3. A stopsignal is output to the controller 141 at the time when the optical discD having the selected disc number in subject has reached the takeoutenabling position by the optical disc transporting mechanism 42 or 302.The controller 141 outputs the stop signal to the driving controlcircuit of the driving motor 45 of the housing unit rotating and drivingmechanism 41 based upon the routing of the stop signal from the dischousing unit rotational position detection mechanism 44. This interruptsthe routing of the driving signal to the driving motor 45 from thedriving control circuit for halting the rotary table 5. That is, therotary table 5 is halted when the optical disc D having the selecteddisc number has reached the takeout enabling position by thetransporting mechanism 42 or 302.

The system controller 154 then routes a signal commanding the control tobe transferred to the disc transporting mechanism 42 to the controller141. Based on such command signal, the controller 141 outputs a drivingsignal to the driving control circuits associated with the drivingmotors 61 or 330 for the disc transporting mechanisms 42 or 302,respectively. Based on the driving signal supplied from the controller141, the driving control circuit causes the driving current to flowthrough the driving motors 61 or 330 for the disc transportingmechanisms 42 or 302 for rotating the rotary disc 60 or the firstrotatable cam 306. By such rotation of the rotary disc 60 or the firstrotatable cam 306, the first arm 54 or 305 and the second arm 55 or 305making up the disc feed mechanism as mentioned above are rotated inorder to take out the optical disc D housed within the disc housing unit2 and in order to transport the optical disc D thus taken out to thedisc loading position of the disc reproducing unit 2 or 302.

When the optical disc D selected from the disc housing unit 2 is routedto the disc loading position by the disc feed mechanism 50 or 303, thetwo-position switch 72 or the control switch 324 is actuated by therotary disc 60 or the first rotatable cam 306 for detecting that theoptical disc D has been transported to the disc loading position. Adetection signal detecting the end of disc transport is output from thetwo-position switch 72 or the control switch 324. Based on suchdetection signal, the controller 141 outputs a stop signal to a drivingcontrol circuit for the driving motors 61 or 330 of the disctransporting mechanism 42 or 302. This interrupts the supply of thedriving current from the driving control circuit to the driving motors61 or 330 for halting the rotation of the rotary disc 60 or the firstrotatable cam 306.

The system controller 154 then routes to the controller 141 a signalcommanding the transfer of the control operation to the verticalmovement mechanism 102 shown in FIG. 17 or to the disc reproducing unitrotating mechanism 400. Based on such command signal, the controller 141outputs a driving signal to the driving motor 103 of the verticalmovement mechanism 102 or to the driving motor 441 of the discreproducing unit rotating mechanism 400. Based on the driving signalfrom the controller 141, the driving control circuit causes the drivingcurrent to flow through the driving motor 141 of the vertical movementmechanism 102 or the driving motor 441 of the disc reproducing unitrotating mechanism 400 in order to rotate the main gear 106. Withrotation of the main gear 106, the optical disc D transported to thedisc loading position is chucked on the disc reproducing unit 43 or 301.

The system controller 154 then routes a signal commanding the transferof the control operation to the disc reproducing unit 43 or 301 to thecontroller 141. Based on such command signal, the controller 141supplies the current to the disc rotating mechanism 80 of the discreproducing unit 43 or 301 for unidirectionally rotating the opticaldisc D in unison with the disc table 81 and for moving the opticalpickup unit 82 radially of the optical disc D for reproducing the pitinformation corresponding to the information signals recorded on theoptical disc D. The playback signals from the optical pickup unit 82 aresupplied to the reproducing circuitry 155 where they are separated intospeech signals, tracking error signals and focusing error signals. Thespeech signals are outputted at an output terminal φout of thereproducing circuitry 155, while the tracking error signals and focusingerror signals are supplied to a servo circuitry, not shown.

The system controller 154 turns on the LED arranged at an upper portionof an actuated disc group designating key in red hue at a time when theplayback operation for the optical disc D loaded on the disc reproducingunit 43 or 301 is started (step S309).

If there is no optical disc inserted in the disc inserting slit 6 havingthe designated disc number in the disc housing unit 2, such that thereis no optical disc to be transported by the disc transporting mechanism42 or 302, the disc presence/absence detection switch 70 or 319 isactuated by the second arm 55 or 305 constituting the disc feedmechanism 50 or 303. Such actuation of the detection switch 70 or 319produces an output detection signal which is routed via the controller141 to the system controller 154. The system controller 154 converts to"0" the disc present/absent pit of the file among a large number offiles read out into the RAM region which corresponds to the disc numberof the optical disc D to be reproduced, and registers the converted pit"0" before proceeding to a step S309.

At the stage of completion of the processing of the step S309, a largenumber of files on the RAM region are overwritten on the correspondingones of one hundred files on the memory 153 to complete a series ofprocessing operations.

If it is found at the step S303 that the group corresponding to theactuated disc group designating key 17 has not been registered,processing transfers to a step S310 in order to display in, for example,the memo display area 30 of the display section 28 an error message(e.g., "no entry"), for e.g., 12 seconds. On completion of the errormessage, processing transfers to a step S311 where reversion is made tothe ordinary state before the program comes to a close.

If it is found at the step S305 that the rotary actuating key 22 has notbeen actuated, processing transfers to a step S312. This step S312 is astep of awaiting the entry by the rotary actuating key 22 for a certaintime, herein 16 seconds. If there is no entry by the rotary actuatingkey 22 after lapse of 16 seconds, reversion is made to the ordinarystate (step S313) before the processing comes to a close.

If, in the present disc reproducing apparatus, only the rotary actuatingkey 22 is actuated from the ordinary state, the optical disc D isreproduced based on the file which is currently read into the fileworking area of the system controller 154. That is, the rotary actuatingkey 22 is rotated for sequentially updating the files and the opticaldisc D having the disc number registered in the disc number registrationarea c of the updated file is reproduced. Of course, the disc number ofthe optical disc D to be reproduced is displayed in the first discnumber display region 31a and the disc number of the optical disc D tobe reproduced next is displayed in the second disc number display region31b.

The above description of the playback mode mainly refers to continuousplayback mode, generally termed the continue-mode. If the continue-modeis desired to be set, the continue key, disposed at the leftmost side,of three mode setting keys 201, 202 and 203, arranged at the upperright-hand side in the lower mid portion of the operating panel 13, maybe set for operation. At this time, the LED arranged above the key 201is turned on.

The remaining two modes, that is, an unordered playback mode, generallyreferred to as a shuffle mode, and a program mode, may be established byactuating a centrally disposed shuffle key 202 and a right-hand sideprogram key 203, respectively. At this time, the LEDs arranged above thekeys 202, 203 are turned on selectively.

Similarly to the continue-mode, the shuffle mode is a playback mode inwhich, while the optical discs are reproduced based on the file as readout into the file working area of the RAM region of the systemcontroller 154, the optical disc D to be reproduced next is selected atrandom with the rotary actuating key 22. That is, the rotary actuatingkey 22 is rotationally actuated for selecting one of the disc numbers ofthe files read out into the file working area at random for setting theoptical disc D to be reproduced next. In such case, the selected discnumber is displayed in the second disc number display region 31b.

The program mode is a playback mode in which the order of files read outinto the file working area of the RAM region of the system controller154 is changed with the rotary actuating key 22 and the optical discsare reproduced based on the so-modified files. In such case, playback isperformed in the order of the files, as in the case of thecontinue-mode. The disc number concerning the file next to the filebeing reproduced is displayed in the second disc number display region31b.

Since the various data are updated in the present disc reproducingapparatus with the aid of the rotary actuating key 22, the large numberof keys, such as are usually required in the reproducing apparatuscapable of reproducing a large number of optical discs D for enteringand updating purposes, may be replaced by the sole rotary actuating key22, with the result that the key array on the operating panel 113 may besimplified. In addition, since data updating may be performed by asimplified rotational operation, the operation of data registration,which usually requires a complex operation, may be achieved easily,thereby improving the convenience of the disc reproducing apparatus. Inaddition, since the memo is registered for each disc number, groupregistration may be achieved while reference is had to the disc numberand its memo, with the result that the confirmation may be made easilyduring registration with the least risk of mistaken registration.

Furthermore, the disc number currently reproduced is displayed in thefirst disc number display region 31a, and the disc number reproducednext is displayed in the second disc number display region 31b, itbecomes possible to resolve the inconvenience in the disc reproducingapparatus capable of reproducing the large number of the optical discsD, that is, the inconvenience that the disc to be reproduced next isunknown and the corresponding disc number needs to be confirmed by acorresponding key operation, thereby further improving the convenience.

In the above-described embodiment, data updating and setting is carriedout using the rotary actuating key 22 and the pushbutton switch 24installed on the operating panel 13. Alternatively, a rotary actuatingkey and a pushbutton switch similar to them may also be provided on aremote controller for data updating and setting by a remote controloperation.

Although a single memo is registered for each disc number, it ispossible to modify memo contents among the groups for a given discnumber.

Although the recording/reproducing apparatus according to the presentinvention is applied to a reproducing apparatus for optical discs, itmay also be applied to a reproducing apparatus for other types of thedisc-shaped recording media, such as magneto-optical discs.

It is noted that, if a plurality of optical discs D are housed withinthe rotary table 5 of the disc housing unit 2 as described above, theremay be occasions wherein a plurality of optical discs D owned by amother and a plurality of optical discs D owned by a father co-existwith the result that it becomes extremely difficult to select desiredoptical discs D from the plural optical discs D. On the other hand, itis only a rare occurrence that all of the music selections recorded onthe single disc D are to be reproduced, while it is more common toselect only one or more desired music selections for reproduction. Inthis consideration, it would be convenient if only favorite opticaldiscs D and favorite music selections could be stocked.

With the reproducing apparatus, such function is afforded to first tofourth music clip keys 251 to 254 shown in FIG. 2.

If such music clip keys 251 to 254 are used, different keys arepreferably owned by different users, for example, the first music clipkey 251 and the second music clip key 252 are owned by mother andfather, respectively.

With such reproducing apparatus, whether a clip file of groupregistration of the music selection or replay of the previouslyclip-filed music selection is to be performed is determined depending onthe status of the reproducing apparatus when the music clip keys 251 to254 are turned on, as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 45.

The flow chart shown in FIG. 45 is started by the power on of the mainpower source, and processing first proceeds to a step S500.

At the step S500, it is determined by the system controller 154 shown inFIG. 39 whether the designated music selection is being reproduced or inthe playback paused state. If the result is YES, processing transfers toa step S501 in order to execute the processing routine for the clip fileand, if the result is NO, processing transfers to a step S502 in orderto execute the processing routine for the clip play which is theplayback of the previously clip-filed music selection.

The processing routine for the clip file is as shown in a flow chartshown in FIG. 46.

That is, the flow chart shown in FIG. 46 is started when one of themusic clip keys 251 to 254 is turned on during the playback state orduring the playback-paused state, and processing first proceeds to astep S400.

At the step S400, the system controller 154 detects the music clip keywhich has been turned on, and controls the display 28 for displaying aletter "clip file", for example, and flickering the displayed letter.The system controller 154 causes data indicating the turned-on musicclip key to be transiently stored in a memory provided in the systemcontroller 154. Processing then transfers to a step S401. The memory,not shown, is referred to herein as CLIPTBL.

At the step S401, it is checked by the system controller 154 whether aplurality of registration data indicating addresses or music selectionnumbers of music selections clip-filed in the past, referred tocollectively as CCAL, have been recorded in the memory 153, such as anS-RAM, in order to check whether there is any clip-filed music selectionfor the turned-on music clip key. If the result is YES, processingtransfers to a step S402 and, if the result is NO, processing transfersto a step S407.

At the step S402, since the CCAL has been stored in the memory 153, thesystem controller 154 reads out the totality of the CCAL of the clipfiles from the memory 153. Based on the CCAL, the system controller 154controls a music calendar 31c and the display 28 so that the titleoccasionally affixed to the clip file during the clip memo mode as laterexplained is displayed. The music calendar 31c is constituted by thefile numbers of the clip-files and the music selection numbers of thetotality of music selections making up the clip-file. Processing thentransfers to a step S403.

On the other hand, at the step S407, since no CCAL belonging to the clipfile is stored in the memory 153, the system controller 154 clears theCCAL before proceeding to the step S403.

At the step S403, the system controller 154 controls the display unit 28so that the music selection number or the like of the music selectioncurrently reproduced or currently in the playback-paused state isdisplayed in the display section. Processing then transfers to a stepS404.

At the step S404, the system controller 154 controls the writing in thememory 154 in such a manner that the registration information indicatingthe table-of-contents (TOC) data of currently reproduced orreplay-paused music selections, the numbers of the currently reproducedoptical discs D or the music selection number indicating the musicselection arraying sequence in the clip file is newly written in a discnumber registration region 153a. Processing then transfers to a stepS405. The number of the optical disc D may be the number indicating theposition corresponding to the disc inserting slit 6 of the disc table 5,or may be the number of the optical disc D itself.

If a title or the like is affixed to the clip file with the clip memomode as later explained, such title data is written as character data ina character data recording area 153b.

At the next step S405, if the system controller 154 registers theregistration information for the first time in the clip file, the systemcontroller formulates data indicating that the registration informationhas been registered in the clip file, referred to hereinafter as filetag, before proceeding to a step S406.

At the step S406, the system controller 154 controls the writing in thememory 153 for causing the file tag to be written in a flag region 153c.The system controller also lights the LED provided on the music clip keywhich has been turned on and also controls the display on the displayunit 28 so that letters "clip file" in a flickering state areilluminated for a predetermined time. The system controller alsocontrols the display on the display unit 28 for displaying the musiccalendar indicating the music selection numbers in the clip file tocomplete the routine of the clip file. This permits the user torecognize that the music selections has now been clip-filed.

In this manner, by a simplified operation of turning on the desiredmusic clip keys 251 to 254 during replay or replay-pause of a desiredmusic selection. such music selection may be music-clipped.Consequently, data of plural desired music selections (theabove-mentioned CCAL) may be grouped and stored in the memory 153 byrepeating replay or replay pause of the desired music selections andturn-on of the music clip key as described above.

If the user has operated the music clip key in an effort to clip filethe music selection currently reproduced, and subsequently has becomeaware that such is in error, the user turned on the same music clip keya second time during replay of the music selection. The systemcontroller 154 then controls the display unit 28 for illuminating theletters "clip file" in a flickering manner. The user turns on an erasekey 255 as later explained during the flickering of the letters "clipfile". The system controller 154 controls the memory 153 to erase theregistration information of the currently reproduced clip-filed musicselection from the clip file.

The reproduction of the music-clipped music selection (clip-play) isperformed in accordance with a routine indicated by a flow chart shownin FIG. 47.

The flow chart shown in FIG. 47 is started when one of the music clipkeys 251 to 254 is turned on except during the replay or replay-pause,for example, during stop, fast feed or fast rewind. The flow chart isstarted at a step S410.

At the step S410, in order that the optical disc D loaded on thereproducing unit is enabled to be reproduced when there is nomusic-clipped music selection in the music clip file for the presentlyactuated music clip key, the system controller 154 causes the discnumber of the optical disc D loaded in the reproducing unit to be storedin the RAM in the system controller (CLIPTBL). Processing then transfersto a step S411.

At the step S411, the system controller 154 stores data indicating themusic clip key turned on in CLIPTBL. Processing then transfers to a stepS412.

At the step S412, the system controller 154 retrieves the registrationof the music selection of the clip file of the music clip key which hasbeen turned on. Processing then transfers to a step S413.

At the step S413, the system controller 154 checks whether a musicalselection has been registered in the clip file. If there is an airregistered in the clip file, processing transfers to a step S414. Ifthere is no file registered in the clip file, the routine is directlybrought to an end.

Meanwhile, if there is no air registered in the clip file indicated bythe music clip key, the system controller 154 controls the display unit28 for displaying letters "no file". Thus the user is apprised of thefact that there is no air registered in the clip file indicated by themusic clip key.

At the step S414, the system controller 154 decides whether or notplural disc consecutive play mode of designating and sequentiallyreproducing plural optical discs D has been designated and the randomplay mode of designating random play of music selections recorded on theoptical disc D has been designated. If the result of decision is YES,processing transfers to a step S417 and, if it is NO, processingtransfers to a step S415.

At the step S415, the system controller 154 decides whether there isrecorded a clip-filed music selection on the optical disc D currentlyloaded in the reproducing unit. If the result of decision is YES,processing transfers to a step S419 and, if it is NO, processingtransfers to a step S416.

At the step S419, since the clip-filed music selection is recorded onthe currently loaded optical disc D, the controller 154 controls therotary table 5 in such a manner that the CCAL indicating the addressesof the clip-filed music selections is read out from the memory 153 andthe optical disc D having the music selection recorded therein is loadedin the reproducing unit. The controller also controls the reproducingcircuitry 155 so that the address of the clip-filed music selection isaccessed and the music selection is reproduced. Processing thentransfers to a step S418. Thus the clip-filed music selection isreproduced.

On the other hand, the system controller 154 controls the display unit28 so that, if the title, for example, is affixed to the reproducedmusic selection based on the CCAL as explained subsequently, such titleis read out from the character data storage area of the memory 153 anddisplayed. Thus the user is apprised of the name, for example, of themusic selection currently reproduced. During such clip play, the systemcontroller 154 controls the display unit 28 for illuminating the LEDindicating the usual playback state for displaying the letters "clipplay", for example, while also controlling the display unit 28 fordisplaying the music selection number 31a of the music selectioncurrently reproduced, the clip file number, the number 31b of the musicselection scheduled to be reproduced next and a music calendar 31cindicating the number of all of the music selections of the clip file.

Thus the user is apprised of the next music selection to be reproduced.Consequently, if the user intends to skip the next music selection, forexample, he or she may select the following music selection, using amusic selection skip key, on completion of reproduction of the currentmusic selection.

At the step S416, the system controller 154 decides whether the presentmode is the one-disc mode of reproducing only the currently loaded discD. If the result of decision is YES, the routine is brought to an endbecause there is no clip-filed music selection on the currently loadeddisc D. If it is YES, processing transfers to a step S417.

If the current mode is the one-disc mode, and the clip-play is notpossible, the system controller 154 controls the display unit 28 todisplay letters such as "the mode is one-disc mode and hence next clipplay is not possible". Thus the user is apprised of occurrence of anunavailable operation.

The step S417 is a step to which processing proceeds when it isdetermined at the step S414 that the current mode is the plural disccontinuous play mode and moreover the random play mode, and when it isdetermined at the step S416 that the current mode is not the one-discmode. At the step S417, the system controller 154 reads out theclip-filed CCAL from the memory 153 and controls the rotary table 5 sothat the optical disc D to be reproduced based on the CCAL is loaded onthe reproducing unit, while controlling the playback circuitry 155 sothat the address of the clip-filed music selection on the disc D isaccessed and the clip-filed music selection is reproduced. Processingthen transfers to the step S418. Thus the clip play is carried out, thatis the clip-filed music selection is reproduced.

At the step S418, the system controller 154 determines whether thereplay of the clip-filed music selection has come to an end. If theresult of decision is NO, the step S418 is iteratively executed untilthe replay of the music selection comes to an end. If the result ofdecision is YES, processing reverts to the step S414.

The system controller 154 iteratively executes the above-mentionedroutine until all of the clip-filed music selections have beenreproduced, or a stop key commanding the cessation of replay isactuated.

Thus the reproducing apparatus clip-files music selections if the musicclip keys 251 to 254 are actuated during replay or replay-pause, whileclip-playing the music selections registered at the music clip key ifthe music clip keys 251 to 254 are actuated during stop. Thus theclip-filed music selection may be easily reproduced by one keyactuation. Additionally, the inconvenience of re-programming desiredmusic selections for each reproduction may be eliminated.

The music selections clip-filed as described above may be erased(clip-erased) at any time during clip play.

The clip erasure processing routine is as shown in the flow chart ofFIG. 48. The flow chart shown in FIG. 48 is started when the musicselection desired to be clip-erased is reproduced by the userdesignating such music selection and the erase key 255 is turned onwhile the music selection is reproduced. The flow chart is started at astep S420.

At the step S420, since the erase key 255 is actuated, the systemcontroller 154 detects the registered information of the currentlyreproduced music selection from the four CCALs stored in the memory 153.Processing then transfers to a step S421.

At the step S421, the registered information of the currently reproducedmusic selection is erased from the CCAL stored in the memory 153.Processing then transfers to a step S422.

At the step S422, the system controller 154 checks whether as a resultof erasure of the registered information of the currently reproducedmusic selection, there is any clip file in which the registeredinformation of all of the music selections constituting the clip filehas been deleted, that is whether there is any clip file in which thereis no music selection to be registered. If the result of decision isYES, processing transfers to a step S423 and, if it is NO, processingtransfers to a step S425.

At the step S423, a file tag is formed for the clip file completelydevoid of the registered music selections for indicating that there isno registered music selection. Processing then transfers to the stepS425.

At the step S425, the system controller 154 determines whether or notthe clip play is currently performed. If the result of decision is YES,processing transfers to a step S426. If it is NO, a replay standby stateis established after complete replay of the current music selectionuntil designation of the next operation to terminate the clip eraseroutine.

At the step S426, the system controller 154 determines whether the clipfile in which the clip-erased registered information has been registeredis the currently clip-played clip file. If the result is NO, thecurrently reproduced music selection is continuously reproduced toterminate the clip erase routine. If the result is YES, processingtransfers to a step S428.

At the step S428, the system controller 154 determines whether, as aresult of the clip erasure, the currently reproduced clip file hasbecome completely depleted of the registered information, that is,whether there is CCAL present in the currently reproduced clip file. Ifthe result is YES, processing transfers to a step S429 and, if it is NO,the clip erase routine is terminated.

If the result of decision at the step S428 is NO and thus the clip eraseroutine is terminated, the system controller 154 controls the playbackcircuitry 155 for reproducing the music selection registered next to theclip-erased music selection.

At the step S429, the system controller 154 determines whether thecurrent mode is the one-disc mode of designating replay of only oneoptical disc D. If the result of decision is YES, processing transfersto a step S430 for controlling the reproduction circuitry 155 forprematurely terminating the reproduction of the currently reproducedmusic selection. If the result of decision is YES, since the currentmode is the continuous playback mode for continuously reproducing aplurality of optical discs D, processing transfers to a step S431.

At the step S431, the system controller 154 controls the rotary table 5and the playback circuitry 155 for reproducing the optical disc D inwhich a music selection next to the clip-erased music selection isrecorded. Thus the clip erase routine is brought to an end.

If the clip erasure has been performed, the system controller 154controls the display unit 28 for displaying the letters "clip erase" andfor erasing the music selection number of the music selection from themusic calendar. Thus, the user is apprised of the fact that thecurrently reproduced music selection has been clip-erased.

It is possible for the reproducing apparatus to add a title or the likefor each clip-filed music selection.

Thus, the user reproduces the music selection, to which the title or thelike is desired to be affixed, during the clip play, and turns on atime/memo key 256 shown in FIG. 39 during reproduction of the musicselection. On detection that the time/memo key 256 has been turned onduring the clip play, the system controller 154 sets a clip memo mode aslater explained, and controls the display unit 28 for displaying theletters "memo file" in a flickering manner. Thus, the user is apprisedof the fact that the title or the like can now be affixed. If it isdetected during the operating mode other than the clip play mode, forexample, the stop mode, that the time/memo key 256 has been turned on,the system controller controls the display unit 28 for displaying thetotal recording time of the optical disc D currently loaded on thereproducing unit or the recording or playback time of the currentlyreproduced music selection.

The title or the like may be registered with katakana letters,alphabetical letters or numerals. Thus, the user actuates a registeringletter changeover key, not shown, provided for previously selectingwhether the title should be registered in letters or numerals and forchanging over the letter registration to numeral registration or viceversa. If the letter registration is selected by the actuation of theregistration letter changeover key, the system controller 154 controlsthe switch 258 shown in FIG. 39 for selecting a fixed terminal 258b witha movable terminal 258a. If the numeral registration is selected, thesystem controller controls the switch 258 for selecting a fixed terminal258c with the movable terminal 258c.

The movable terminal 258a of the switch 258 is connected by means of aJOG rotation detection circuit 257 to the rotary actuating key 22 whichthe user rotates in order to select one of the letter registration andthe numeric registration.

That is, the direction of rotation or the like of the rotary actuatingkey 22 is detected by the JOG rotation detection circuit 257. The JOGrotation detection circuit 257 detects clockwise (that is, rightward)rotational actuation of the rotary actuating key 22 and, responsive tosuch actuation, outputs a first pulse phased as shown in FIG. 49a. TheJOG rotation detection circuit 257 also detects counterclockwise(leftward) rotational actuation of the rotary actuating key 22 and,responsive to such actuation, outputs a second pulse having a phasedifference of, for example, one-fourth of a period relative to the firstpulse, as shown in FIG. 49b.

Specifically, the rotary actuating key 22 has, e.g., ten clicks thereinso that, when the rotary actuating key 22 makes one complete rotation,the JOG rotation detection circuit 257 outputs ten first or secondpulses.

If the user has designated letter registration, the first and secondpulses are supplied by means of the switch 258 to a character updatingcircuit 261. If the user has designated numeric registration, the firstand second pulses are supplied by means of the switch 258 to a discnumber updating circuit 261.

Character data for displaying numerals, katakana letters or alphabeticalletters are supplied to a character memory 260.

The character updating circuit 261 detects the phase of the suppliedpulse in order to determine whether the pulse is the first pulse or thesecond pulse. If it is the first pulse, corresponding to the rightwardrotation, the character data is read from the character memory 260 inthe order of a, i, u, e and o or ABCD . . . , for example, and routed tothe display unit 28. If it is the second pulse, corresponding to theleftward rotation, the character data is read from the character memory260 in the order of o, e, u, i and a or DCBA . . . , for example, androuted to the display unit 28. Thus, the katakana letters and thealphabetical letters are displayed in the display unit 28 responsive tothe rotational actuation of the rotary actuating key 22.

When the desired letter is displayed in the display unit by suchactuation of the rotary actuating key 22, the user presses thepushbutton switch 27 provided at a mid portion of the rotary actuatingkey 22. This causes the pushbutton switch 27 to output a pulse, that is,a stationary pulse.

The pushbutton switch 27 is connected to the character updating circuit261. When fed with the stationary pulse, the character updating circuit261 controls the memory 153 for writing the katakana or alphabeticalletters currently displayed in the display unit 28 in the character datastorage region 153b of the memory 153. This causes the currentlydisplayed katakana or alphabetical letters to be registered as one ofthe registered information data of the currently reproduced musicselection.

If the user has designated the numeric registration, the first pulse orthe second pulse is supplied by means of the switch 258 to the discnumber updating circuit 259.

The disc number updating circuit 259 detects the phase of the suppliedpulse in order to determine whether the pulse is the first pulse or thesecond pulse. If it is the first pulse, corresponding to the rightwardrotation, the character data is read from the character memory 260 inthe order of 01234 . . . , for example, and routed to the display unit28. If it is the second pulse, corresponding to the leftward rotation,the character data is read from the character memory 260 in the order of98765 . . . , for example, and routed to the display unit 28. Thus, thenumerals are displayed in the display unit 28 responsive to therotational actuation of the rotary actuating key 22.

When the desired numeral is displayed in the display unit by suchactuation of the rotary actuating key 22, the user presses thepushbutton switch 27 provided at a mid portion of the rotary actuatingkey 22. This causes the pushbutton switch 27 to output a pulse, that is,a stationary pulse. The disc number updating circuit 259 is connected tothe pushbutton switch 27, so that the stationary pulse is routed to thedisc number updating circuit 259.

When fed with the stationary pulse, the disc number updating circuit 259controls the memory 153 to write the numeral currently displayed in thedisplay unit 28 in a disc number registration region 153a of the memory153. Thus, the currently displayed numeral is registered as one of theregistered information data for the currently played music selection.

The user repeats the above-described sequence of operations and, whenthe desired title or the like has been entered, he or she again actuatesthe time/memo key 256. In the present embodiment, character datacorresponding to ten characters or letters may be stored.

When the time/memo key 256 is again actuated, the system controller 154detects this and controls the display unit 28 for lighting for apredetermined time the letters "memo file" displayed in a flickeringmanner in the display unit. Thus, the user is apprised of the fact thatthe title or the like of the currently clip-filed music selection hasnow been registered.

The title and the like thus registered in the clip memo mode is read outduring the clip play so as to be displayed in the display unit 28.Consequently, if desired music selections are selected from a pluralityof optical discs D to form a clip file, the user can easily grasp whichmusic selections make up the clip file.

Deletion of the character data of the registered title or the like, withthe registered music selection information remaining intact, ishereinafter explained.

If the title or the like is to be deleted, the user first clip-plays themusic selection the title or the like of which is desired to be deleted.The time/memo key 256 is turned on. This causes the system controller154 to control the display unit 28 to display the letters "memo file" ina flickering manner as described above, and awaits an entry of the titleor the like.

The user then actuates the erase key 255. This causes the systemcontroller 154 to erase the character data of the music selection storedin the memory 153 and to erase the letters "memo file" so far displayedin a flickering mode so as to light up and display letters "file erase".

Thus, the user is apprised of the fact that the registered characterdata such as the title of the music selection has now been erased.

If the title or the like is affixed to each of the clip-filed musicselections, it becomes possible to retrieve the desired music selectionby such title.

For such retrieval, the user first actuates one of the music clip keys251 to 254 associated with the clip files desired to be retrieved, andalso actuates the time/memo key 256. Thus, the system controller 154enters the clip mode, as described above.

When the clip mode is set, the user actuates a retrieval key, not shown.This sets the system controller 154 to the retrieval mode, so that thedisplay unit 28 is controlled to display the word "retrieval".

Specifically, the rotary actuating key 22 has, e.g., ten clicks therein.Thus, the system controller 154 is responsive to the rotationalactuation of the rotary actuating key 22 to control the display unit 28for updating the title displayed in the display unit 28 for each click.

Thus, the title of the music selections of the clip file is updated anddisplayed in the display unit 28, such as popular songs, folk songs orthe like. The user retrieves the desired music selection as he or sheviews the title of the music selection displayed in the display unit 28.

When the desired title or the like is displayed in the display unit 28by the rotary actuation of the rotary actuating key 22, the useractuates the pushbutton switch 24. The system controller 154 controlsthe rotary table 5 or the playback circuitry 155 or the like forreproducing the musical selections pertaining to the title which hasbeen displayed on actuation of the pushbutton switch 24.

If, during the retrieval mode, the rotational actuation of the rotaryactuating key 22 is halted, the system controller 154 counts the halttime duration. If 16 seconds, for example, have elapsed withoutactuation of the pushbutton switch 24, with the rotary actuating keyremaining in the halted state, the system controller controls variousparts to discontinue the retrieval mode in order to revert to theordinary mode.

With the present reproducing apparatus, it is possible to retrieve musicselections of the desired clip file only by rotational actuation of therotary actuating key 22, such that the retrieved music selection may bereproduced only by actuation of the pushbutton switch 24.

For retrieving the music selections, it is necessary to provide aplurality of keys. However, if music selection retrieval is made by therotary actuating key 2 and the pushbutton switch 24, it becomes possibleto reduce the number of keys which need to be provided for enablingretrieval of the music selection, with the result that the panel areaand the number of component parts may be diminished to reduce the cost.

In the above embodiment, various data are updated and set using therotary actuating key 22 and the pushbutton switch 24 mounted on theoperating panel 11. Alternatively, the rotary actuating key 22 and thepushbutton switch 24 may be provided on a remote controller for updatingand setting various data by remote control. Although the recordingand/or reproducing apparatus according to the present invention isapplied to a reproducing apparatus capable of reproducing a plurality ofoptical discs, it may also be applied to a reproducing apparatus capableof reproducing a single optical disc.

Industrial Utilizability

With the recording and/or reproducing apparatus for disc-shapedrecording media according to the present invention, the possiblepresence of the disc-shaped recording medium in a preset holder of thedisc housing unit is detected during transportation of the desiredrecording medium out of the housing unit, so that there is no necessityof providing a large number of sensors corresponding to the holdingcapacity of the housing unit. In addition, since the possible presenceof the disc-shaped recording medium may be detected by the mechanicaloperation of the transporting mechanism, the apparatus itself may bereduced in size and production cost may also be reduced. The possiblepresence of the optical recording media may also be detected accuratelywithout being affected by fluctuations in the surface state or intransparency of the disc-shaped recording media. Furthermore, with therecording and/or reproducing apparatus for disc-shaped recording mediaaccording to the present invention, the recording/reproducing unit isfixed to a main body c the recording and/or reproducing apparatus by alock unit by regulating the force of elasticity of the floating unitduring the time period when the disc-shaped recording medium is loadedby the chuck unit on the rotational driving means such as a disc drivingunit, so that the relative position of the disc-shaped recording mediumrelative to the disc driving means or the recording and/or reproducingmeans such as an optical pickup may be accurately set in order to enablestabilized loading of the disc-shaped recording medium and in order toenable information signals to be recorded on or reproduced from thedisc-shaped recording medium.

In addition, the present invention provides a recording and/orreproducing apparatus for disc-shaped recording media having a housingunit for containing a plurality of disc-shaped recording media and atransporting mechanism for transporting a selected one of thedisc-shaped recording media contained in the housing unit to a positionregistering with the loading unit for rotational driving means of therecording and/or reproducing unit, in which the relative positionbetween the selected disc-shaped recording medium and the recordingand/or reproducing means or the rotational driving means for thedisc-shaped recording medium may be accurately set in order to achievereliable loading of the disc-shaped recording medium on the rotationaldriving means and in order to provide for accuraterecording/reproduction of the information signals on or from thedisc-shaped recording medium. Also, with the recording and/orreproducing apparatus for disc-shaped recording media according to thepresent invention, only the desired information from a singledisc-shaped recording medium, only a desired one of the disc-shapedrecording media or only the desired disc-shaped recording medium and thedesired information from a plurality of disc-shaped recording media maybe selected and the attributes of the information such as addresses ortitles may be grouped and stored by memory means. The groupedinformation may be reproduced only by actuating group designating meansduring reproduction of the disc-shaped recording media.

This obviates the necessity of re-programming the desired informationfor each replay.

Moreover, if the group designating means is actuated during reproductionor reproduction pause or except during reproduction, the informationbeing replayed is group-registered or the group information is to bereproduced, respectively, a given key may be used in two ways, so thatthe number of the operating keys may be reduced and the operating panelmay be reduced in size.

Furthermore, since the information number or the like to be reproducedsubsequently may be displayed in addition to the information numbers orthe like of the currently reproduced information, the user may bepositively apprised of which information data the group is composed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A recording and/or reproducing apparatus for adisc-shaped medium, the apparatus comprising:a housing unit fordisc-shaped recording media supported for rotation about a pivot as acenter of rotation and having holder means for radially holding aplurality of disc-shaped recording media with respect to the pivot,wherein major surfaces of the plurality of disc-shaped recording mediaare held substantially parallel to and extend radially from a major axisof the pivot; a recording and/or reproducing unit having loading meansfor loading a selected one of the plurality of disc-shaped recordingmedia, rotating means for rotating the selected disc-shaped recordingmedium, and recording and/or reproducing means mounted for radialmovement relative to the selected disc-shaped recording medium loaded onthe rotating means for recording information signals on or reproducinginformation signals from the selected disc-shaped recording mediumloaded on the rotating means; transporting means for taking out theselected disc-shaped recording medium from the holder means provided inthe housing unit and feeding the selected disc-shaped recording mediumtaken from the holder means to the recording and/or reproducing unit,wherein the transporting means includesa transport holder for holdingthe selected disc-shaped recording medium during transport thereof,detection means for detecting a presence of the selected disc-shapedrecording medium in the transport holder, the detection means includinga first arm having two ends, one end, which contacts an outer peripheryof the selected disc-shaped recording medium to detect the presence ofthe selected disc-shaped recording medium in the transport holder,wherein when no disc-shaped recording medium is present in the transportholder the other end of the first arm activates a switch of thedetection means, guide means with a feed guide section having a smoothlyand continuously curved surface facing the selected disc-shapedrecording medium and feed means for feeding the selected disc-shapedrecording medium into a loading position on the recording and/orreproducing unit with an outer periphery of the selected disc-shapedrecording medium being guided by the feed guide section of the guidemeans, a second arm pivotally mounted with said first arm by means of anarm said first and second arms being rotationally biased by rotationbias means such that respective first ends of the first and second armsfacing the outer periphery of the selected disc-shaped recording mediumapproach each other, a rotatable cam rotationally driven by rotationaldriving means, the rotatable cam having an arm rotation control camengaged by engagement means provided on opposite sides of the first andsecond arms, and a housing unit rotation control means rotatably mountedon a housing Divot and having an engagement section at a first endthereof for engaging with an engagement recess provided in the housingunit for the plurality of disc-shaped recording media, the housing unitrotation control means having an engagement pin engaged with a camgroove formed in the rotatable cam, wherein the housing unit rotationcontrol means is rotationally controlled by the rotatable cam forengaging the engagement section with and disengaging the engagementsection from the engagement recess; and chuck means for holding theselected disc-shaped recording medium transported by the transportingmeans to the recording and/or reproducing unit such that the selecteddisc-shaped recording medium rotates in unison with the rotating means.2. A recording and/or reproducing apparatus for a disc-shaped recordingmedium, the apparatus comprising:a housing unit for disc-shapedrecording media supported for rotation about a pivot as a center ofrotation and having holder means for radially holding a plurality ofdisc-shaped recording media with respect to the pivot, wherein majorsurfaces of the plurality of disc-shaped recording media are heldsubstantially parallel to an axial direction of the pivot; a recordingand/or reproducing unit having loading means for loading a selected oneof the plurality of disc-shaped recording media, rotating means forrotating the selected disc-shaped recording medium, and recording and/orreproducing means mounted for radial movement relative to the selecteddisc-shaped recording medium loaded on the rotating means for recordinginformation signals on or reproducing information signals from theselected disc-shaped recording medium loaded on the rotating means;transporting means for taking out the selected disc-shaped recordingmedium from the holder means provided in the housing unit and feedingthe selected disc-shaped recording medium taken from the holder means tothe recording and/or reproducing unit, wherein the transporting meansincludesa transport holder for holding the selected disc-shapedrecording medium during transport thereof and detection means fordetecting a presence of the selected disc-shaped recording medium in thetransport holder, guide means with a feed guide section having asmoothly and continuously curved surface facing the selected disc-shapedrecording medium, feed means for feeding the selected disc-shapedrecording medium into a loading position on the recording and/orreproducing unit with an outer periphery of the selected disc-shapedrecording medium being guided by the feed guide section of the guidemeans, first and second arms pivotably mounted by means of an arm pivotand rotationally biased by rotation bias means in a direction in whichrespective first ends of the first and second arms facing the outerperiphery of the selected disc-shaped recording medium transported bythe transporting means approach each other, arm rotation controllingpins engaged in first and second cam grooves respectively formed in thefirst and second arms and respectively operated by rotating drivingmeans, and a detection switch for detecting the presence of the selecteddisc-shaped recording medium, the detection switch being positioned on arotational trajectory of the second arm and actuated by the second arm,whereinthe first and second cam grooves each have a respective camwhich, during initial-stage rotation of the arm rotation controllingpins, rotates the first and second arms in a direction such that thefirst end of the first arm is moved away from the outer periphery of theselected disc-shaped recording medium and the first end of the secondarm approaches the outer periphery of the selected disc-shaped recordingmedium, a third cam which, during rotation of the arm rotationcontrolling pins beyond the initial-stage rotation, rotates the firstarm in a direction such that the first end of the first arm approachesthe outer periphery of the selected disc-shaped recording medium, and acontrol switch of the feed means is actuated when the second arm isrotated by the third cam in a direction such that the first end of thesecond arm approaches the outer periphery of the selected disc-shapedrecording medium by rotation of the arm rotation controlling pins whenno disc-shaped recording medium is present in the transport holder; andchuck means for holding the selected disc-shaped recording mediumtransported by the transporting means to the recording and/orreproducing unit such that the selected disc-shaped recording mediumrotates in unison with the rotating means.
 3. A recording and/orreproducing apparatus for a disc-shaped recording medium, the apparatuscomprising:a housing unit for disc-shaped recording media supported forrotation about a pivot as a center of rotation and having holder meansfor radially holding a plurality of disc-shaped recording media withrespect to the pivot, wherein major surfaces of the plurality ofdisc-shaped recording media are held substantially parallel to an axialdirection of the pivot; a recording and/or reproducing unit havingloading means for loading a selected one of the plurality of disc-shapedrecording media, rotating means for rotating the selected disc-shapedrecording medium, and recording and/or reproducing means mounted forradial movement relative to the selected disc-shaped recording mediumloaded on the rotating means for recording information signals on orreproducing information signals from the selected disc-shaped recordingmedium loaded on the rotating means; transporting means for taking outthe selected disc-shaped recording medium from the holder means providedin the housing unit and feeding the selected disc-shaped recordingmedium taken from the holder means to the recording and/or reproducingunit, wherein the transporting means includesa transport holder forholding the selected disc-shaped recording medium during transportthereof and detection means for detecting a presence of the selecteddisc-shaped recording medium in the transport holder, guide means with afeed guide section having a smoothly and continuously curved surfacefacing the selected disc-shaped recording medium, feed means for feedingthe selected disc-shaped recording medium into a loading position on therecording and/or reproducing unit with an outer periphery of theselected disc-shaped recording medium being guided by the feed guidesection of the guide means, first and second arms pivotably mounted bymeans of an arm pivot and rotationally biased by rotation bias meanssuch that respective first ends of the first and second arms facing theouter periphery of the selected disc-shaped recording medium andtransported by the transporting means approach each other, and arotatable cam rotationally driven by rotational driving means, therotatable cam including an arm rotation control cam engaged byengagement means provided on opposite sides of the first and second armsand a detection switch positioned on a rotational trajectory of thesecond arm and actuated by the second arm, whereinthe arm rotationcontrol cam includes a first cam which, during initial-stage rotation ofthe rotatable cam, respectively rotates the first and second arms suchthat the first end of the first arm is moved away from the outerperiphery of the selected disc-shaped recording medium and the first endof the second arm approaches the outer periphery of the selecteddisc-shaped recording medium, and a second cam which, during furtherrotation of the rotatable cam, rotates the first arm in a direction suchthat the first end of the first arm approaches the outer periphery ofthe selected disc-shaped recording medium, and the detection switch isactuated when the second arm is rotated by the first cam in a directionsuch that the first end of the second arm approaches the outer peripheryof the selected disc-shaped recording medium by rotation of therotatable cam when there is no disc-shaped recording medium in thetransport holder facing the second arm; and chuck means for holding theselected disc-shaped recording medium transported by the transportingmeans to the recording and/or reproducing unit such that the selecteddisc-shaped recording medium rotates in unison with the rotating means.